Fresher's Guide: Student Council Tax Exemption
10 September 2017
In England, Scotland, and Wales, properties are charged council tax to help fund the services of the local council. If you and your housemates are students you may be fully or partially exempt from paying council tax. Read our guide to find out what council tax is, whether you are exempt, and how to prove an exemption if you don’t have to pay council tax on your property.
In addition to the rent or mortgage, council tax is applied to properties in England, Wales, and Scotland to help fund services provided by local authorities. Students who study full-time are exempt from paying council tax, provided they meet certain criteria.
All aparto residents are exempt from paying council tax, but you may be expected to notify the local authorities of your student status. Read on for a full guide to student council tax exemption.
Are You Eligible for Tax Exemption?
Households where all residents are full-time students do not have to pay any council tax at all. This means that if you live with housemates who are also full-time university students, the house or flat will not have to pay any council tax. To count as a full-time student, you must be enrolled on a course that lasts at least one year and involves over 21 hours of study each week. If only some people living in your home are students, but others work full time, you may be eligible for a 25% discount on your council tax.
Proving Your Exemption
You will still be sent a council tax bill, even though you are a full-time student, as it is up to you to inform the council that you are eligible for an exemption. Usually, a certificate of student status can be obtained from the university for this purpose. Just get in touch with student service or the central administration department to find out how you can apply for this. If you are living in a shared house, everyone that is a full-time student will be required to prove their exemption before the discount is applied.
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