Council Tax fraud rises with one in six claiming Single Person Discount

Fraud prevention service, Cifas is urging residents to consider consequences of Council Tax fraud when battling rising costs, as new research highlights an alarming trend in individuals dishonestly claiming the Single Person Discount (SPD).

The SPD is a 25% reduction on Council Tax bills for households with only one adult. However, a recent Cifas survey of 2,000 UK adults found that 1 in 6 (16%) admitted to either falsely claiming the discount themselves or knowing someone who had done so in the past year.

With rising Council Tax bills for many, Cifas’ Fraud Behaviours Survey found that dishonestly claiming SPD remains one of the ‘most common’ types of first-party fraud, alongside falsifying CV qualifications (18%) and retail non-delivery fraud (19%). The study further revealed that 9% of respondents deemed falsely claiming SPD as ‘reasonable’.

13% mistakenly believed this type of fraud was legal, a 1% increase from 2023, whilst 28% of 25-34-year-olds were the most likely to have dishonestly claimed the discount

With tomorrow marking ‘National Honesty Day’ (30 April), Cifas is calling on individuals to act with integrity.

Rachael Tiffen, Director of Public Sector for Cifas said “First-party fraud isn’t a harmless crime – it’s harmful. At a time when many households are feeling the squeeze of rising council tax bills, it’s more important than ever to recognise that council tax fraud, including false claims for Single Person Discount, puts vital local services at risk. It can also result in serious consequences for those individuals who act dishonestly.

“Fraud against the public purse diverts funding away from the very communities that need it most. We understand times are tough, and that’s why it’s so important to support residents during challenging times without resorting to fraud. Ensuring people can report suspected fraud quickly and anonymously remains crucial.”