Lori Meadows
Whether or not a student has to pay council tax depends on their status. Full-time students are often exempt from paying council tax, but part-time students may have to pay. Open University students are considered part-time students, regardless of how many credits they are studying. However, if an Open University student is studying more than 90 credits at the same time, they may be able to claim a reduction on their council tax bill.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full-time students | Exempt from council tax |
| Part-time students | No exemption |
| Open University students studying 90+ credits | Eligible for council tax reduction |
| Open University students studying 90 credits | No exemption |
| Households with only full-time students | Exempt from council tax |
| Households with both students and non-students | Students are disregarded when counting eligible adults for discount purposes |
| Student accommodation | Automatically exempt |
| Student status | Must be undertaking a course for the necessary period of time |
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What You'll Learn
Full-time student exemption criteria
To qualify as a full-time student for Council Tax exemption purposes, your course must meet certain criteria. Firstly, it must last a minimum of one calendar or academic year, with a requirement to undertake the course for at least 24 weeks within that year. Secondly, it must demand a minimum of 21 hours of study, tuition, or work experience per week during term time.
Distance learning courses are typically considered part-time, and therefore, not eligible for Council Tax exemption. However, there have been instances where this definition has been challenged and certain courses have been deemed eligible. If you are a distance learning student, your university can issue a letter confirming your status, which you can then use to apply for a Council Tax exemption. It is important to note that receiving this letter does not guarantee exemption, as the final decision rests with your local authority.
If you are a full-time student living with non-students, you may still be exempt from Council Tax. The non-students in your household will be pursued for payment, and they may qualify for a discount. However, if you are the owner of the property, you will be liable to pay the Council Tax.
If you receive a Council Tax bill despite being a full-time student, you can apply for an exemption. You may need to provide a 'certificate of student status' or a 'student certificate' from your university to prove your full-time student status.
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Open University study categorisation
Council tax is a yearly charge paid in 10 or 12 monthly instalments throughout the year. It is charged per household and is calculated based on the value of the property. Households where everyone is a full-time student are typically exempt from paying council tax. In the UK, full-time students are not required to pay council tax and can apply for an exemption.
However, Open University study is technically categorised as part-time, regardless of the number of credits studied. This categorisation presents a unique situation for Open University students in terms of council tax liability. While some Open University students have reported issues claiming a council tax exemption, there is legal precedence to support their claim if necessary. Specifically, if an Open University student is studying more than 90 credits at the same time, they can claim a council tax exemption. The amount of reduction received depends on the number of people in the household and their status.
It is important to note that if you are a full-time student living with non-students, you may still be required to pay a portion of the council tax for your home. Additionally, if your teaching does not take place on campus or you live in off-site accommodation, you may need to provide extra documentation to support your exemption claim.
To qualify for council tax exemption, full-time students can obtain a "certificate of student status" or a “student certificate” from their university. This certificate serves as proof of their full-time student status and can be provided to the local council. In some cases, universities have online systems that can automatically generate and send this letter to the council on the student's behalf.
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Council tax reduction application
If you are a full-time student, you are likely to be exempt from paying council tax. However, there are certain situations where you may still be required to pay. For example, if you live with someone who is not a full-time student, you will likely receive a council tax bill. In this case, your household may still qualify for a discount.
To qualify as a full-time student for council tax purposes, your course must meet specific criteria. Firstly, it should last a minimum of one calendar or academic year. Secondly, it should involve at least 21 hours of study, tuition, or work experience per week during term time. If you are an Open University student, you can claim a council tax reduction if you are studying more than 90 credits at the same time. The reduction amount will depend on the number of people in your household and their status.
To apply for a council tax exemption or reduction, you may need to complete an online form and provide proof of your full-time student status. This proof is often referred to as a "certificate of student status" or "student certificate" and can be obtained from your university's admissions office or website. Once you have the certificate, submit it to your local council. Some universities have online systems that can automatically generate and send this letter to the council on your behalf.
If you have received a council tax bill that you believe is incorrect, you can write to your local authority to explain the discrepancy. In some cases, you may not need to provide evidence of your full-time student status immediately. It is important to note that council tax exemption criteria may vary depending on your location, so it is always a good idea to check with your local council or seek advice from organizations like Citizens Advice.
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Student status and council tax
If you're a full-time student, you're generally exempt from paying council tax. However, there are certain situations where you might still be liable for payment.
Full-time student exemption
Full-time students are usually exempt from paying council tax. A full-time student is defined as someone whose course lasts at least one calendar or academic year and involves at least 21 hours of study, tuition, or work experience per week during term time. If you live in a household with only full-time students, you won't have to pay council tax. Student halls of residence are automatically exempt from council tax.
Part-time students and council tax
If you're a part-time student, you might still be able to get a council tax exemption, but it depends on your specific circumstances. If you live with non-students, you will likely need to pay some council tax for your household. The amount you pay will depend on the number of non-students in your household and their status. For example, if you share a house with one part-time student and one employed person, the employed person will probably be liable for 75% of the council tax bill, while the part-time student will be responsible for the remaining 25%.
Open University students and council tax
For Open University students, the situation is a bit more complicated. While some sources indicate that Open University students studying more than 90 credits at the same time may claim a council tax exemption, others suggest that all study with the Open University is technically categorized as part-time, which could affect exemption eligibility.
Proof of student status
To prove your student status for council tax purposes, you can obtain a "certificate of student status" or a "student certificate" from your university. This certificate can then be sent to your local council to apply for an exemption. It's important to note that some councils may conduct house checks to verify the student status of residents.
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Council tax exemption certificates
If you are a full-time student, you are exempt from paying council tax. However, there are certain conditions that must be met for a person to be considered a full-time student. To qualify for council tax exemption, your local council will register you as a "disregarded person". Being a full-time student classifies you as a "disregarded person", and you won't need to pay council tax under any circumstances. If you are a full-time student living in the UK, you will not have to pay council tax.
To count as a full-time student, your course must meet specific criteria. For instance, if you are a postgraduate student, your course must be full-time, and you should be exempt from council tax if it meets the criteria. For multi-year courses such as undergraduate degrees, you won't have to pay council tax during the summer breaks between academic years. However, you will be liable to pay council tax from the day after your university's summer term finishes.
You can apply for a council tax exemption certificate if you are a full-time student. The council might ask for a 'certificate of student status' or a 'student certificate' to prove you are in full-time education. You can obtain this certificate from your university, usually from the admissions office, or your university might have an online system that can automatically generate and send a letter to the council. Once you have your student certificate, send it to your local council. If you have received a council tax bill that you shouldn't have, you will need to write to your local authority to explain why it is wrong. At this stage, you may not need to send evidence of your full-time student status.
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Frequently asked questions
Open University students may be exempt from paying council tax if they are studying more than 90 credits at the same time. However, there have been reports of issues with claiming this exemption.
Council tax is a yearly charge paid in 10 or 12 monthly instalments. It is charged per household and calculated based on the value of the property.
Households where everyone is a full-time student do not have to pay council tax. If there are non-students in the household, the students are considered "disregarded", and a discount may be available.
You can apply for council tax exemption by completing an online form and providing a "certificate of student status" or "student certificate". This can usually be obtained from the admissions office of your university.
