Janice Lozano
Full-time students in Scotland may be exempt from paying council tax, but this depends on a number of factors. Firstly, the property must be occupied solely by full-time students, and students must be able to prove their status. If a student lives with non-students, they may not be liable to pay council tax, but the non-students will be billed the full amount. Students must be registered with a college or university and be undertaking a course of at least 21 hours per week for 24 weeks per year. If a student takes time out from their course, they may still be considered a student for council tax purposes if they remain registered. Students living in halls of residence are automatically exempt from council tax.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Who is liable to pay council tax? | At least 2 adults living in a home |
| Do full-time students pay council tax? | No, full-time students are disregarded when counting the number of eligible adults in the property. |
| What if I live with a non-student? | If you are the only non-student in the property, you will receive a 25% discount on your bill as long as the full-time student(s) have completed a Council Tax exemption/discount claim form and supplied proof of student status. |
| What if I live with multiple non-students? | If you share with 2 or more employed people who aren't students, they are likely to be liable for 100% of the council tax bill. |
| What if I am a student living in a registered hall of residence? | You will not have to register for council tax and will automatically be exempt. |
| What if I am an international student? | If you are studying at a UK or EU institution, you may still be considered a student for council tax purposes. If you are studying at an educational establishment outside the UK or EU, you cannot be considered a student for council tax purposes and no relevant discounts or exemptions are available. |
| What if I am taking time off from my course? | You might still be considered a full-time student if you are on a break from your course due to illness or family commitments. |
| What if I live in a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO)? | If you are a tenant in an HMO, you do not need to pay council tax, even if your rental agreement says tenants should pay. |
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What You'll Learn
Full-time student exemption criteria
In Scotland, full-time students are exempt from paying council tax. However, this exemption is not applied automatically, and students must apply for it. If a student lives with other adults who must pay council tax, they may not need to pay towards it.
To qualify as a full-time student for council tax purposes, an individual must meet specific criteria. These criteria vary slightly depending on the age of the student and the type of educational institution they attend. Here are the detailed exemption criteria:
For individuals under 20 in non-advanced education:
- Undertake a course or courses lasting at least 12 hours or more per week.
- The course(s) must be for a minimum duration of three months.
For individuals attending a college or university:
- Undertake a specified full-time course at a college or university in the UK or an EU state.
- The course must be for 21 hours or more per week.
- The course must be for a minimum duration of 24 weeks.
- If the college or university is outside the city, a certificate showing student status must be included with the application.
- If undertaking work experience as part of the course, the periods of study must exceed the periods of work experience to qualify as a full-time student.
- The course must lead to the award of a relevant qualification by the educational establishment.
Additional criteria:
- Students must be registered and attending a designated educational establishment.
- Students must be studying within the United Kingdom or a European Economic Area member state.
- Students must provide proof of their student status, which can be done through a certificate of student status or a similar document from the educational institution.
It is important to note that council tax exemption criteria may vary slightly between different councils in Scotland. Students should always check with their local council and educational institution for specific requirements and procedures.
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Non-student spouses or adult dependants
If you are a full-time student, your non-student spouse or adult dependant may be able to get a discount on council tax. To be eligible for this discount, the student must be the sole occupant of the property, or all other occupants must be disregarded when it comes to council tax.
If your spouse or adult dependant is a You may want to see also In Scotland, full-time students are exempted from paying council tax. To qualify for this exemption, students must be attending a designated educational establishment and undertaking a course of study for a minimum of 21 hours per week and 24 weeks per year. To prove student status and receive the council tax exemption, students must provide valid documentation. Here are some methods to demonstrate student status: It is important to note that the specific requirements for proving student status may vary between local councils in Scotland. Students should always check with their local council or governing body for the exact documentation required to receive the council tax exemption. Additionally, students must ensure that their college or university considers them full-time students during the period for which they are claiming the exemption. You may want to see also In Scotland, full-time students are usually exempt from paying Council Tax. If you are a full-time student living with other full-time students, your property may be exempt from Council Tax. However, if you are a full-time student living with non-students, you may still be exempt, but the non-students in your household will be billed for Council Tax. If you are a non-student living with students, you may be able to reduce the amount you pay by claiming a Council Tax Reduction. This is an income-based reduction. You can apply for this if you have a low income or receive certain benefits. The Council Tax Reduction scheme is managed locally by your council, and you can ask them to check your eligibility. They will consider your household income, savings, and other circumstances. You can use an online benefits calculator to check how much reduction you might be entitled to. You may want to see also In Scotland, full-time students are exempt from paying council tax. To qualify as a full-time student, one must be registered and attending a designated educational establishment and undertaking a course of study for a minimum of 21 hours per week and 24 weeks per year, which leads to the award of a relevant qualification by that establishment. If you are a student living in a registered hall of residence, you will not have to register for council tax and will be automatically exempt. The hall of residence must be purpose-built, owned by the university or college, and occupied by students. The university or college must apply for the exemption. If you live in student accommodation that is not run by a university or college, it is not considered a hall of residence, and you must apply for your own student exemption. If you are the only non-student in a shared property with full-time students, you will receive a 25% discount on your bill, provided the students have completed the Council Tax exemption/discount claim form and supplied proof of student status. If you live with someone who is exempt for any other reason, you will not receive a discount on your bill. If you are not a full-time student or are studying at an educational establishment outside the UK or EU, you cannot be considered a student for council tax purposes, and no exemptions or discounts are available. You may want to see also Full-time students are usually exempt from paying council tax. However, this exemption depends on various factors, including the number of adults in the household and whether they are students or not. If you are the only full-time student living with non-students, you may not be liable for council tax, but you will need to apply for an exemption. To qualify as a full-time student, you must be registered and attending a designated educational establishment. Your course must be a minimum of 21 hours per week and 24 weeks per year, leading to a recognised qualification. If you live in an HMO, the owner of the property is responsible for paying council tax. Tenants in HMOs do not need to pay council tax, even if their rental agreement states otherwise. If you receive a council tax bill but believe you are exempt, you can apply for an exemption. Contact your local council to find out if you are eligible and how to apply.Students and Rent: Who Pays?
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