We aim to give you an answer within 10 working days. This form should take approximately nine minutes to complete. It will take only 2 minutes to fill in. You won't be needing a student discount for council tax, but since student and council tax dont go hand-in-hand, you will be getting something that will exempt you from having to pay tax. Is there anything wrong with this page? We aim to give you an answer within 10 working days. 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.. All rights reserved. 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. 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. However, keeping your landlord and rental agent in the loop regarding your exemption status is important to avoid any confusion or misunderstandings about who is responsible for paying the council tax. You can change your cookie settings at any time. Overseas dependent: This is basically a child or partner who cannot legally work in the UK. Local authorities collect council tax and organise it into different "bands" based on the property's value. It may take longer if we are waiting for a reply from the college or university. course name, start/end dates, 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. Registered charity number 279057 VAT number 726 0202 76 Company limited by guarantee. A resident who lives in the property and is a licensee this means theyre not a tenant but have permission to stay there. Involves at least 21 hours of study per week. There is no age limit to this policy, so full-time mature students are covered too. Let's be real; managing finances as a student can be tough. Plenty of students feel that they do not need to inform their local councils of council tax, but those are the ones that end up paying. If you find that you're not eligible for council tax exemption as a student, don't worry there are still ways to reduce the cost. Unoccupied properties You may qualify for an exemption if you are the liable person and you are: in prison. So, let's debunk some of the most common myths and set the record straight. Contact your local council if you have any questions or concerns during the application process. Student halls of residence are automatically exempt. In order to apply for this reduction, if you are studying at the University of Reading you must provide your Student ID number. 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. 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. Begin your journey at Bangor University where academic exploration is exciting! 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. You dont have to pay if youre under 18. Please check the exemptions for unoccupied properties before you apply for this discount.. If you live on your own or no one else in your home counts as an adult, you can get a 25% discount on your Council Tax. When you make an application for a discount or exemption you must continue to pay. As a full-time student, you might need to take some time out from your course, for example, because of an illness or family commitments. That's why were here to help you get through the task of managing taxes. Ealing council tax rise likely after 'inadequate' government settlement Published on Thursday, 28th January 2021 Ealing Council's cabinet has reluctantly agreed to recommend a package of. If only one adult lives in the property as their main home, the bill may be reduced by 25%. You can find out more or opt-out from some cookies. This is a read only version of the page. For council tax purposes, a property is likely to be an HMO if its occupied by: If you receive a council tax bill but you don't think you should have, you can apply for an exemption. 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. If you're sharing a house with other students, you need to make sure that everyone is splitting the council tax bill fairly. A third myth is that if you're living in university accommodation, you don't need to worry about council tax. Council tax discounts and exemptions Find out if you should pay less or no council tax through a discount or exemption. The owner of the property is liable to pay council tax if you live in a house in multiple occupation (HMO). We use cookies to improve your experience of our website. If this affects you, you might be able to challenge the local council's decision and you should get advice from your students union or universitys advice centre. As the full-time student, youre disregarded when counting the number of eligible adults in the property for discount purposes. You can read more about council tax discounts for students on GOV.UK. Households where everyone is a student do not have to pay council tax and can apply for an exemption. Short term empty and unfurnished homes The local council might ask for proof that you're a full-time student. But the decision on your eligibility for exemption will always sit with your local authority.Overall, courses which are defined as part-time are usually not regarded as eligible for council tax exemption since they dont usually meet the criteria for 21 hours+ over 24 weeks+, as outlined above. We can only represent your status and information as it is at the date of issue, i.e. 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. Claiming compensation for a personal injury, Help for victims of rape and sexual violence, Keeping your family in the UK after Brexit, Getting a visa for your spouse or partner, read more about council tax discounts for students, read more about getting help to pay the council tax bill. 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. If you have questions and want to have a better understanding of council tax, you are welcome to contact the, As an alternative, you can look into applying for a, 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 using, If you considering doing this, you are best to seek advice before proceeding and contact the, Valuation Tribunal L V-S and Royal Borough of Kingston Upon Thames 21/03/2019. Council tax Council tax discounts and exemptions Occupied properties Apply for a sole adult discount If only one adult lives in the property as their main home, the bill may be reduced. If you're living with non-students, you may still have to pay council tax, but you may be eligible for a discount. Households where everyones a full-time student do not have to pay Council Tax. Please check My Account for updates. As long as you are a full-time student enrolled in a course lasting longer than a year, and require a minimum of 21 hours of study per week, you may still be eligible for council tax exemption during the summer between academic years If you are in the final year of your course and have already completed your studies, you may still be eligible for council tax exemption until the end of that academic year. If you do get a bill, you can apply for an exemption. Involves at least 21 hours of study per week. Let us know, Copyright 2023 Citizens Advice. Discover recommended open days and other events. Local welfare assistance. The course is at least 24 weeks and has at least 21 hours per week study, tuition or work experience. This is not true only eligible students are exempt. 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. It can save you hundreds of pounds each year, which can be better spent on your education or other important expenses. 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. While you may have been entitled to a council tax student exemption when you were at university, when you leave university, even after completing a postgraduate degree, you will need to start paying council tax, whether you rent or own and there will be no student exemption council tax. 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. 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. No endorsement or partnership is implied. Another myth is that if one person in a household is a student, then the whole household is exempt from paying council tax. Council tax is a tax paid by households in the UK to help fund local services, such as trash collection, road maintenance, and the police force. Council tax exemption student only works if you inform your council. Youre offline. Well, for a student living with a non-student, there will still be a council tax charge, but students will not have to pay. Not all students will be given one, but some local councils will give students a tax exemption certificate. Discretionary payments and discounts. You can get a Council Tax exemption if your property is occupied or unoccupied. 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. Some properties that become unoccupied may be exempt from council tax for longer periods of time. To count as a full-time student, your course must normally last at. We can only explain the eligibility criteria and help to identify if you are likely or unlikely to fit that criteria and explain why. With student council tax, there is a fair amount that students won't have been told before they go to university, so weve put together a useful guide on student council tax. It is your responsibility to update your local authority with information which may affect your eligibility if your situation changes (if exemption is granted). If you or someone you live with is liable to pay council tax, you might be able to get help. You canapply for a council tax exemptionon GOV.UK. This would be issued by the university or college for each student who has moved away. We use some essential cookies to make this website work. Debunking common myths about council tax exemption for students. Council tax Council tax discounts and exemptions Empty and unoccupied properties Apply for an exemption for a property left empty by students (Class K) A property may be exempt from. Youre offline. Overall, courses which are defined as part-time are usually not regarded as eligible for council tax exemption since they dont usually meet the criteria for 21 hours+ over 24 weeks+, as outlined above. A resident owner-occupier who owns either the leasehold or freehold of all or part of the property. You have rejected additional cookies. Involves at least 24 weeks of study per year. If you share with 2 or more employed people who arent students, theyre likely to be liable for 100% of the council tax bill, unless 1 or both of them qualifies as a disregarded person for council tax discount purposes. Contact your nearest Citizens Advice to speak to an adviser if you're in this situation. The certificate should bear the issuing institutions official mark. We will also contact the college or university to verify student status. 2. As a student in the UK, it's important to know about council tax and whether or not you're eligible for exemption. We will liaise with your department directly to confirm the dates of your study on current or past modules within the current academic year. Of course, all students want to have their council tax exemption certificates ready to go, but there are a few things that students need to be aware of beforehand. 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 . To count as a student, you must be doing a full-time course at a university or college that: If you are 18 or 19 in further education, your course must include at least 12 hours study per week. Ealing landlord portal. 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. To count as a full-time student, your course must: Last at least one calendar or academic year, where youre required to undertake the course for at least 24 weeks out of the year. 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. People-based exemptions Students Households where everyone is a full-time student do not have to pay Council Tax. So, let's debunk some of the most common myths and set the record straight. Ultimately, being proactive and resourceful is the key to managing your finances as a student. But for that, you will have to understand who qualifies for council tax exemption (and were here to help you with that). Guide to Council Tax Exemption for Students, The Ultimate Guide To Student Discounts in USA, 20 Tips On How To Save Money As A Student, manage finance as an international student, Evidence that you live in student accommodation, such as a, Proof of your income, if you have any, such as a. Housing and council tax | Ealing Council Essential maintenance: Sunday 23 April Discretionary housing payments, Ukrainian payment applications and My Account council tax and benefits will. We aim to give you an answer within 10 working days. By exploring all of your options and taking advantage of available discounts and cost-saving strategies, you can reduce your living expenses as a student and make the most of your budget. Student halls of residence are automatically exempt. Please check My transactions for updates. If you suspend your course but remain registered because you intend to go back, you should still be regarded as a student for the purposes of council tax. Make sure you're all clear on how the payments will work, and keep track of what everyone owes.. We will either update your bill or let you know why we cannot. Explore everything that UK cities have to offer. You'll need to fill out this form and provide supporting documentation, such as proof of your student status. Households where everyone is a student do not have to pay council tax and can apply for an exemption. We can only explain the eligibility criteria and help to identify if you are likely or unlikely to fit that criteria and explain why. Apply for a bankruptcy exemption (Class Q), Apply for a caravan pitch or boat mooring exemption (Class R), Apply for a death related exemption (Class F), Apply for a minister of religion empty property exemption (Class H), Apply for an empty property exemption for a patient in hospital or a care home (Class E), Apply for an empty property exemption for a person getting care somewhere else (Class I), Apply for an empty property exemption for a person giving care (Class J), Apply for an empty property exemption for a repossessed property (Class L), Apply for an exemption for an unoccupied annexe due to a planning restriction (Class T), Apply for an exemption for a property left empty by students (Class K), Apply for a prison related empty property exemption (Class D), Apply for exemption because a property cannot be lived in by law (Class G), Ealing Council Empty and unoccupied properties information RSS feed. 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. Name and address of the college or university, Full name of the student and date of birth, Details of course i.e. 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. 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. This won't exempt you from paying altogether, but it could reduce the amount you need to pay. Look for student discounts wherever possible, for example, on travel, food, and entertainment. Manage your housing benefits account. If you're a student and have been enjoying council tax exemption, it's important to be aware of when it ends. It can get trickier still, if there is a house of full-time students but there is one who is not a full-time student, then, unfortunately, they will have to pay the council tax themselves, although they will get a single person discount of 25%. This means we cannot determine if you definitely are or are not eligible. There is a 25% discount because there is only 1 eligible adult in the property. What does it mean to have power of attorney? Learn about hundreds of university subjects. Doing so can avoid unexpected bills and save money on living costs. We can only explain the eligibility criteria and help to identify if you are likely or unlikely to fit that criteria and explain why. 1 or more tenants who each have their own tenancy agreement. Understanding council tax is important because it can significantly impact your finances. Discover university rankings devised from data collected from current students. This means we cannot determine if you definitely are or are not eligible. Distance learning courses are officially considered part-time by Kings. 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. A property may be exempt from council tax if a student (or students) has left a property they own or rent, so that they can study. As such, any letter we issue needs to be clear about the mode of study. Wed like to set additional cookies to understand how you use GOV.UK, remember your settings and improve government services. Thank you, your feedback has been submitted. As a distance learner, you have a greater degree of flexibility over how and when you study, but you are only deemed to be actively studying when you are enrolled on a module. Name and address of the college or university, Full name of the student and date of birth, Details of course i.e. Important to know: If you considering doing this, you are best to seek advice before proceeding and contact the Money & Housing Advice. You can also get the exemption if a property is lived in by students and dependents. 2023 Uni Compare Ltd. All rights reserved. You are strongly advised to seek. It's easy to fall for these myths and end up with a surprise council tax bill. 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. Each property has been valued by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) and placed in one of eight council tax bands.. Any resident living in the property, for example, a squatter. Start the search for your uni. To work out who is liable to pay the council tax, according to the Citizens Advice Bureau, the government uses a hierarchy system: 1. Benefits and financial support. Firstly, you may be able to apply for a council tax discount as a student. 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. Hey there, fellow students! You will need to pay council tax as soon as you move into a property. If your property isn't exempt, some people, including full-time students, are 'disregarded'. 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. So, don't fall for these common myths about council tax exemption for students. An owner of the property where no one is resident. This could include a letter from your university or college confirming your enrollment, or a copy of your student ID card. This might mean that whoever does have to pay the council tax can get a discount. Check that you meet all eligibility criteria before applying. Apply for an exemption for an unoccupied annexe due to a planning restriction (Class T) Apply for an exemption for a property left empty by students (Class K) Apply for a prison related empty. To count as a. normally involves at least 21 hours of study, tuition or work experience per week during term time. But the decision on your eligibility for exemption will always sit with your local authority. If you have a low income and little savings, you may be able to get. Studying any courses up to A Levels and are under 20. 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. The usage is intended to promote, identify and search. Read what we're saying about a range of issues. The credit value will have an equivalent number of notional study hours, and this is what we use to calculate how many hours of study per week you are expected to be doing. If you're living with other students who aren't eligible for council tax exemption, it's only fair that everyone contributes towards the cost. The credit value will have an equivalent number of notional study hours, and this is what we use to calculate how many hours of study per week you are expected to be doing. The amount of council tax you pay relates to the valuation of your property. While that implies a horrible standard that creates a new Arthur Fleck, this is only in the context of council tax and nothing else. One common myth is that all students are automatically exempt from paying council tax. 5. This is a read only version of the page. Any household occupied exclusively by full-time students will qualify for a full council tax exemption. Discover hundreds of different career options. If you have any questions or concerns about the documentation you need to provide, don't hesitate to contact your local council for guidance. Citizens Advice is an operating name of the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux. 2022 All Rights Reserved.The content, images and logos used on this are copyright protected and copyrights vests with the respective owners. Do I need to pay taxes if I work during my studies? We can only issue letters confirming factual information confirmed by your record and department. Typically, the person occupying the property is liable not the landlord unless there is joint tenancy and the landlord has arranged for this, for example, in properties like care homes or refuge centres. Another option is to split the cost of council tax with your housemates. Taken from 175,000+ data points from students attending university to help future generations. Normally require at least 21 hours of study, tuition or work experience per week during term time. 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. Filter from hundreds of universities based on your preferences. If you do get a bill, you can apply for an exemption. When it comes to council tax exemption for students, there are a lot of myths and misconceptions out there. This will depend on your student status, but for the most part, university students don't pay council tax of any kind. As such, any letter we issue needs to be clear about the mode of study.As a distance learner, you have a greater degree of flexibility over how and when you study, but you are only deemed to be actively studying when you are enrolled on a module.Each module usually takes between 6 8 weeks to complete and each module will have a credit value.
