Ibrahim Gardner
If you are a full-time student, you may be exempt from paying council tax. Generally, households where everyone is a full-time student do not have to pay council tax, and student halls of residence are automatically exempt. However, if there are non-students in the household, the property is not exempt, and the non-students are responsible for the bill. Full-time students are 'disregarded' for council tax purposes, meaning the tax is calculated as if they do not live in the property, which may result in a discount for whoever is liable to pay. To qualify as a full-time student, your course must last at least one calendar or academic year, require at least 24 weeks of study per year, and involve at least 21 hours of study, tuition, or work experience per week.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Who is exempt from council tax? | Households where everyone is a full-time student are exempt from council tax. |
| What about halls of residence? | Student halls of residence are automatically exempt. |
| What if there are non-students in the household? | If there is one other adult who is not a student, the bill is reduced by 25%. If there are two or more adults who pay full council tax, the household is not eligible for an exemption. |
| What is considered a full-time course? | A full-time course is one that lasts at least one academic year or one calendar year, requires 24 weeks or more of study, and involves at least 21 hours a week of study, tuition, or work experience. |
| What if I take time off from my course? | If you suspend your course but remain registered, you are still regarded as a student for council tax purposes. |
| What if I'm between courses? | If you've finished one course and are waiting to start another, you may have to pay council tax as you are not within the formal period of either course. |
| What if I can't prove I'm a student? | If your study, tuition, or work doesn't take place on campus or you're in the thesis-writing stage, you may have difficulty proving your student status. |
| How do I apply for an exemption? | You can apply for a council tax exemption on the Gov.UK website. You will need to provide details of your place of study, course details, and student ID number. |
| Can I get a discount if I don't qualify for an exemption? | Yes, even if you don't qualify for an exemption, you might still be able to get a discount on your council tax bill. Contact your local council for more information. |
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What You'll Learn
Full-time student criteria
To qualify as a full-time student for council tax exemption purposes, specific criteria must be met. Firstly, the course must last a minimum of one calendar or academic year. Secondly, it must require the student to undertake the course for at least 24 weeks within the year. Lastly, it should involve a minimum of 21 hours of study, tuition, or work experience each week during term time.
Distance learning courses are typically considered part-time, and students may find it challenging to prove their full-time status if their study or tuition does not occur on a university or college campus. However, there have been instances where this legal definition has been contested, and some courses may meet the criteria for study time, thus qualifying for exemption.
If a student needs to take time off from their course due to illness or personal reasons, they should still be regarded as a full-time student for council tax purposes as long as they remain registered with the intention to return.
Students can request a certificate from their educational institution to confirm their full-time status, which the council may ask for as proof. It is important to note that council tax exemption for full-time students is ultimately determined by the local authority.
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Student exemption applications
If you are a full-time student, you do not have to pay Council Tax. If you do receive a bill, you can apply for an exemption. To qualify as a full-time student, your course must meet certain criteria. For example, it must last at least one calendar or academic year and involve at least 21 hours of study, tuition, or work experience per week during term time.
If you live with other full-time students, your household can apply for an exemption. However, if there is at least one person in your household who is not a full-time student, you will likely receive a Council Tax bill. In this case, your household may still be eligible for a discount. For instance, if you share with an employed person or a part-time student, they will probably be responsible for 75% of the Council Tax bill.
To apply for a Council Tax exemption, you may need to provide a certificate from your university or college confirming your enrolment and the dates of your course. This certificate must be issued by the university or college by name and address. If you are unable to provide this certificate, your application may be refused.
It is important to note that if you take time off from your course, you may still be regarded as a student for Council Tax purposes as long as you remain registered and intend to return. However, if you finish one course and plan to start another, you may be liable to pay Council Tax during the gap between the two courses.
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Student discounts
If you are a full-time student, your household may be exempt from paying council tax. To qualify for this exemption, everyone in your household must be a full-time student. In this case, you should not be receiving a council tax bill. If you do, you can apply for an exemption.
Full-time students are ''disregarded'' when it comes to council tax. This means that, for council tax purposes, it is calculated as if you do not live in the property. If you are the only person in the household who is disregarded, the person responsible for paying the council tax bill will qualify for a 25% discount. If everyone in the household is disregarded, they will qualify for a 50% discount.
To be considered a full-time student, your course must last at least one calendar or academic year, and involve at least 21 hours of study, tuition, or work experience per week during term time. If you take time out from your course, you should still be regarded as a student for council tax purposes, as long as you remain registered and intend to return. However, if you finish one course and are waiting to start another, you may have to pay council tax.
If you are having difficulties proving that you are a student, you can ask for a certificate from your university or college.
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Non-student household members
If you are a non-student living with full-time students, you may still be able to get a discount on your Council Tax bill. The property will not be exempt from Council Tax, and you will receive a bill. However, as a full-time student is not counted as an adult for Council Tax purposes, you may be eligible for a discount. For example, if you share a property with one other adult who is not a student, your bill will be reduced by 25%. If there are two or more non-students in the household who pay Council Tax, you cannot apply for a discount.
To count as a full-time student for Council Tax purposes, a course must last at least one calendar or academic year, or 24 weeks within the year, and involve at least 21 hours of study, tuition, or work experience per week during term time. If you are taking time out from your course due to illness or family commitments but remain registered, you should still be regarded as a student. However, if you have finished one course and are waiting to start another, you may have to pay Council Tax during this period.
If you are a non-student household member and are unsure about whether you can get a discount or who is responsible for paying, you can contact your local council for more information.
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Student halls exemption
Student halls of residence are automatically exempt from council tax. If a building qualifies as a hall of residence, the occupants and periods of occupation can be ignored. However, if the building does not qualify as a hall, it will only be exempt on the days it is occupied by qualifying students.
To qualify as a full-time student, your course must last at least one calendar or academic year, or at least 24 weeks out of the year. It should also involve at least 21 hours of study, tuition, or work experience per week during term time. If you suspend your course but remain registered with the intent to return, you should still be regarded as a student for council tax purposes.
If your student accommodation does not qualify for exemption, you may still be eligible for a discount. If you receive a council tax bill, you can apply for an exemption. If some of your housemates are not full-time students, your household may be able to get a discount. The local council might ask for proof of your student status, which you can request from your university or college.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, households where everyone is a full-time student do not have to pay council tax. Halls of residence are automatically exempt.
A full-time course is one that lasts at least one academic year or calendar year, requires 24 weeks or more of study, and involves at least 21 hours a week of study, tuition, or work experience.
If you live with one other adult who is not a student, your household may be eligible for a 25% discount on the council tax bill. Properties where one or more household members over the age of 18 are not students cannot be exempt.
You can apply for a council tax exemption on the government's website. You will need to provide details of your place of study, course details, and your student ID number.
