Normally require at least 21 hours of study, tuition or work experience per week during term time. We can only explain the eligibility criteria and help to identify if you are likely or unlikely to fit that criteria and explain why. If you have a low income and little savings, you may be able to get. Council tax eligibility and exemption is set in law and not something which is decided by Kings or any university. Full-time students are exempt, and to count as full-time for purposes of Council Tax Exemption, your course must: Last at least 1 calendar or academic year, where you're required to undertake the course for at least 24 weeks out of the year; Normally require at least 21 hours of study, tuition or work experience per week during term time. Let's be real; managing finances as a student can be tough. Important to know: If you considering doing this, you are best to seek advice before proceeding and contact the Money & Housing Advice. The list includes halls of residence (but subject to qualification conditions which require it to be owned or managed by an institution or for an institution has nomination rights) and dwellings occupied solely by students . For example, if you share with an employed person or a part-time student, they will probably be liable for 75% of the council tax bill. Here we will show you how to get exempt from council tax student and how to apply for council tax student exemption. It will take only 2 minutes to fill in. One common myth is that all students are automatically exempt from paying council tax. Apply for a council tax band reduction for physically disabled people, Apply for a halls of residence exemption (Class M), Apply for an armed forces accommodation exemption (Class O), Apply for an exemption for an annexe lived in by a disabled or elderly relative (Class W), Apply for an exemption for a property only lived in by the severely mentally impaired (Class U), Apply for an exemption for a property where everyone is a student (Class N), Apply for an exemption for a property where everyone is under 18 (Class S), Apply for a visiting forces exemption (Class P), People not included when counting the number of adults, Ealing Council Occupied properties information RSS feed. Its best to inform your council as early as possible and not run the risk. If you fall into any of the below categories, you will be considered a disregarded person: There will be other exemptions of course and certain discounts or grants available for different students, but if you fall into the above categories, you will be given disregard status and will have student council tax exemption. This form should take approximately nine minutes to complete. You will need to pay council tax as soon as you move into a property. The amount of council tax you pay relates to the valuation of your property. your record as it is now. Some people are not included (disregarded) when we count the number of adults living in a property. Not only can it help you save some serious cash, but it can also prevent you from accidentally getting on the wrong side of the local council. If you've finished a course and youre waiting to start another, you might have to pay council tax - for example, if you've finished an undergraduate degree and plan to start a postgraduate course in the next academic year. But you must remember to apply! We believe everyone should have the choice to find the right course at the right university. Council tax discounts and exemptions - If you are a single person, have a disability or have a property that is exempt you may be entitled to a discount or exemption on your council. 1 or more tenants who each have their own tenancy agreement. Someone who normally lives in a property but moves away temporarily (for example because of work, or travelling, or family circumstances) may still be seen to have their main home in the property, unless they become responsible for council tax at another address. Learn more now. Apply for an exemption for a property where everyone is a student (Class N) Apply for an exemption for a property where everyone is under 18 (Class S) Apply for a sole adult discount Apply. Distance learning courses are officially considered part-time by Kings. Students will need to qualify through certain criteria, but for the most part, you will be pardoned from student council tax. Take 3 minutes to tell us if you found what you needed on our website. We check all claims for student reductions against internal and external records. Doing so can avoid unexpected bills and save money on living costs. We can only issue letters confirming factual information confirmed by your record and department. Benefits and financial support. Student halls of residence are automatically exempt. 2022 All Rights Reserved.The content, images and logos used on this are copyright protected and copyrights vests with the respective owners. To gain a full council tax exemption, a household must be occupied entirely by full-time students. To claim council tax exemption, contact your local council to get a form for your doctor to sign. Council tax discounts and exemptions Find out if you should pay less or no council tax through a discount or exemption. You'll need to fill out this form and provide supporting documentation, such as proof of your student status. This means the council tax is calculated as if you dont live there. Not all students will be given one, but some local councils will give students a tax exemption certificate. Some councils can be lenient on you not letting them know straight away, but why take the risk? The owner of the property is liable to pay council tax if you live in a house in multiple occupation (HMO). All rights reserved. Let us know, Copyright 2023 Citizens Advice. You might have difficulty proving youre a student for council tax purposes if your study, tuition or work doesnt take place on the university or college campus or youre in the thesis writing up stage of your course. You won't be needing a student discount for council tax, but since student and council tax don't go hand-in-hand, you will be getting something that will exempt you from having to pay tax. Fill out the council tax exemption form completely and accurately. While that implies a horrible standard that creates a new Arthur Fleck, this is only in the context of council tax and nothing else. You can also get the exemption if a property is lived in by students and dependents from outside the European Economic Area, who have an immigration restriction on taking up work or claiming benefits while in the UK. We will liaise with your department directly to confirm the dates of your study on current or past modules within the current academic year. Households where everyone is a student do not have to pay council tax and can apply for an exemption. A statement confirming you are studying as a distance learning student, and that this is considered part-time by the university, Your overall course start and expected end dates, The module you are currently studying and the start date, Any other modules you have already studied, An explanation of how many weeks you have studied or are expected to study, and a calculation of the expected study hours per week. We use some essential cookies to make this website work. To find out what this is, you are best to contact your department.Definitions in lawCouncil tax eligibility and exemption is set in law and not something which is decided by Kings or any university. Local authorities collect council tax and organise it into different "bands" based on the property's value. Involves at least 21 hours of study per week. Alternatively please email your documents to revenuesscanning@ealing.gov.uk clearly stating your enquiry and your reference. 1. Involves at least 24 weeks of study per year. Make sure to read through the application requirements carefully and provide all of the necessary documentation to avoid any delays or complications in the exemption process. Discounts for full-time students Households where everyone's a full-time student do not have to pay Council Tax. Sometimes the council likes to do checks on houses that haven't paid council tax just yet and having a council tax student certificate is likely to save you a lot of money and hassle. Name and address of the college or university, Full name of the student and date of birth, Details of course i.e. Please check the exemptions for unoccupied properties before you apply for this discount.. Explore everything that UK cities have to offer. Please check My transactions for updates. If you do get a bill, you can apply for an exemption. We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services. Your ideal student home & a flight ticket awaits. A discount is applied for people living on their own, and for those who live with people who dont count as adults for council tax purposes, for example, full-time students. We can only explain the eligibility criteria and help to identify if you are likely or unlikely to fit that criteria and explain why. normally involves at least 21 hours of study, tuition or work experience per week during term time. This will depend on your student status, but for the most part, university students don't pay council tax of any kind. But the decision on your eligibility for exemption will always sit with your local authority. A council tax certificate issued from the college or university for each student, confirming: Please send evidence confirming the status of any non-EEA dependents living in the property. As with determining eligibility for any benefit, determining eligibility for council tax exemption can be complex if you are not classified as a full-time student. Check with your local council or university for more information on temporary council tax exemptions. However, we can provide you with advice and guide you through the legal jargon, especially if you are at all unsure whether you should apply or how your particular course would be defined. You can find out more or opt-out from some cookies. Find out about the Energy Bills Support Scheme, View a printable version of the whole guide. So, let's debunk some of the most common myths and set the record straight. It may take longer if we are waiting for a reply from the college or university. Also, understanding the council tax exemption rules can help you avoid getting into trouble with your local council, which can save you a lot of hassle in the long run. We aim to give you an answer within 10 working days. When sharing a house with fellow students, ensuring everyone is splitting the council tax bill equally is important as it helps manage finance as an international student. Do I need to pay taxes if I work during my studies? Alternatively please email your documents to revenuesscanning@ealing.gov.uk clearly stating your enquiry and your reference. Sometimes the council likes to do checks on houses that haven't paid council tax just yet and having a council tax student certificate is likely to save . When it comes to council tax exemption for students, there are a lot of myths and misconceptions out there. 2023 Uni Compare Ltd. All rights reserved. You might be liable to pay council tax in these circumstances because you aren't within the formal period of either course. You can change your cookie settings at any time. In this case, please. If you're sharing a house with other students, you need to make sure that everyone is splitting the council tax bill fairly. We aim to give you an answer within 10 working days. You will need to upload your official council tax student certificate. This is a read only version of the page. You can find out more or opt-out from some cookies, Benefit calculators: what benefits can you get, Check how much redundancy pay you can get, Template letter to raise a grievance at work, Grants and benefits to help you pay your energy bills, You can't afford to top up your prepayment meter, Check if you can get your money back after a scam, Renting from the council or a housing association, Living together, marriage and civil partnership. Youre a full-time student for council tax purposes if your course: lasts at least 1 calendar or academic year for at least 24 weeks out of the year, and. Each module usually takes between 6 8 weeks to complete and each module will have a credit value. In fact, whether or not you need to pay council tax depends on the type of accommodation you're living in and your individual circumstances. If you would like to find out more about this in detail, there are examples in case law:Valuation Tribunal L V-S and Royal Borough of Kingston Upon Thames 21/03/2019 Can Student Services give me a letter to apply for Council tax exemption?Yes, we can issue you with a letter, and you can use it to apply for Council tax exemption if you wish.Your letter will contain the following: We will liaise with your department directly to confirm the dates of your study on current or past modules within the current academic year.Important to know: How can I get support and advice on this?As with determining eligibility for any benefit, determining eligibility for council tax exemption can be complex if you are not classified as a full-time student. You can ask for a certificate from your university or college which must provide it, unless more than a year has passed since your course finished. This is not true only eligible students are exempt. Council tax exemption has traditionally only been possible for full-time students.What is the definition of a full-time student for council tax purposes?To count as a full-time student, your course must: How are distance learning courses defined?Distance learning courses are officially considered part-time by Kings. Please check My Account for updates. Each property has been valued by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) and placed in one of eight council tax bands.. Some properties that become unoccupied may be exempt from council tax for longer periods of time. Combine big-city buzz and beautiful countryside at Bedfordshire. Issuing you with a letter does not mean you are eligible or that you will be granted exemption. In this situation, the local council can only pursue the non-students for payment of the council tax bill. You may qualify for a Council Tax discount if a full time student lives in your home. When applying for council tax exemption as a student, there are a few common mistakes to watch out for that can delay or even prevent your application from being approved.. A full council tax bill is based on at least 2 adults living in a property. We check and review all claims for a discount. Debunking common myths about council tax exemption for students. Payment method (how you pay your council tax) Sort code of account used to pay your council tax Online key (shown on council tax bill, reminder notice, summons - if you cannot find it contact. However, we can provide you with advice and guide you through the legal jargon, especially if you are at all unsure whether you should apply or how your particular course would be defined.If you have questions and want to have a better understanding of council tax, you are welcome to contact the Money & Housing Advice team, whose specialist advisers can support and advise you.What can I do if I dont get exemption?As an alternative, you can look into applying for a Council tax reduction.Local authorities can choose how to operate this benefit, which means that having local knowledge tailored to your particular authority is much better, so we advise seeking out local support in your area usingFind an adviser.If you apply and are then unhappy with the councils decision you can challenge this, and look into how toappeal this decision. Accepted file types: Word (docx), Acrobat (pdf), Excel (xlsx), Plain text (txt), We also accept photos taken on phones and tablets and the following image file types - jpeg, gif, png, There is a maximum individual file size per document of 50MB. If you do get a bill, you can apply for an exemption. Hey there, fellow students! It can save you hundreds of pounds each year, which can be better spent on your education or other important expenses. If you are currently in receipt of welfare benefits, making the case that you are a full-time student may remove your eligibility for means tested benefits. Name and address of the college or university, Full name of the student and date of birth, Details of course i.e. So, let's debunk some of the most common myths and set the record straight. This means a property where one of two adult residents do not count, will still get 25% off the bill. This is known as a. We use cookies to improve your experience of our website. Dont worry we wont send you spam or share your email address with anyone. This means we cannot determine if you definitely are or are not eligible. We aim to give you an answer within 10 working days. As a student, its important to take advantage of every opportunity to reduce your living costs; council tax exemption is one of the most significant ways to do that. No endorsement or partnership is implied. Its important to keep in mind that you must inform your local council as soon as your student status changes to avoid any unnecessary charges and have a proper hold on your debt management. And in case youre wondering, if youre a student, you are still exempt from paying even during the summer holidays and youll continue to be exempt so long as your university has you registered as a student, so enjoy it while you can! This means we cannot determine if you definitely are or are not eligible. When you make an application for a discount or exemption you must continue to pay. However, you only need to be 'undertaking' a course for the necessary period of time and dont need to be physically attending university or college for that time. Register or sign in to My Account and complete the online enquiry form. While the application process typically takes only a few days to process, additional information may be required, so it's crucial to apply in a timely manner. So, don't fall for these common myths about council tax exemption for students. Registered number 01436945 England Registered office: Citizens Advice, 3rd Floor North, 200 Aldersgate, London, EC1A 4HD. This would be issued by the university or college for each student who has moved away. The first step is to contact your local council to request a council tax exemption form. Ensure you have all the necessary documentation. If you would like to find out more about this in detail, there are examples in case law: Yes, we can issue you with a letter, and you can use it to apply for Council tax exemption if you wish. Firstly, you may be able to apply for a council tax discount as a student. Begin your journey at Bangor University where academic exploration is exciting!