Douglas Olsen
Council tax is a tax on domestic properties in the UK, and how much you pay depends on the value of your property. In Sheffield, full-time students are exempt from paying council tax, but part-time students are not. If you are a full-time student living with other full-time students, you won't be named on the bill and won't have to pay. However, if you live with non-students, you may still qualify for a discount, but you will be liable for the council tax charge if you are the sole owner or leaseholder.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Who has to pay council tax? | Usually, people who are 18 or over and own or rent the property they live in. |
| Are students exempt? | Full-time students are exempt from council tax. |
| What if I live with non-students? | If you're a full-time student and you rent a property with non-students, you won't be named on the bill and won't have to pay council tax. |
| What if I own the property I live in? | If you're a full-time student and you own the home you live in, you will be exempt from council tax. |
| What if I rent out a room in my property to non-students? | If you're a full-time student and you rent out a room in your property to non-students, you will be liable for the council tax charge. |
| What if I'm not a full-time student? | If you're studying part-time, on a correspondence course, evening class, or taking a gap year, you're not considered a full-time student for council tax purposes. |
| What if I'm an international student? | The council tax rules are the same for international and domestic students. |
| What if I'm a landlord? | If all your tenants are students, your property is exempt from council tax. If it's a 'House in Multiple Occupation' (HMO), where tenants have individual tenancy agreements, the landlord is liable for council tax. |
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What You'll Learn
Full-time students are exempt from council tax
In the UK, council tax is paid to the local council to fund local services such as transport, police, fire service, libraries, and rubbish collection. The amount of council tax owed is determined by the value of the property. Typically, if you are over 18 and own or rent your home, you are liable to pay council tax. However, full-time students are exempt from paying council tax in Sheffield.
To be considered a full-time student for council tax purposes, you must meet certain criteria. You must be enrolled at a college, university, or similar institution, and your course must last for at least one academic year, with a minimum of 24 study weeks per year and an average of 21 hours of study per week. Alternatively, if you are under 20 years old, you can be classified as a full-time student if you are enrolled on a course lasting more than three months, with a minimum of 12 hours of study per week between 8 am and 5:30 pm. Additionally, if you are over 18 but your parents still receive child benefit for you, you may also qualify as a full-time student. It is important to note that if you are studying on a correspondence course, evening class, or a course related to your job, or if you are taking a gap year, you will not be considered a full-time student for council tax purposes.
If you are a full-time student renting a property in Sheffield, you will be exempt from council tax as long as everyone else in your household is also a full-time student. Even if you are the sole tenant or own the property, you will still be exempt as long as no one else in the household is a non-student. However, if there are non-students in the household, you may still qualify for a discount on your council tax bill.
To claim your exemption, you can apply for a council tax exemption certificate, which you can then present to the Sheffield City Council to confirm your status. It is important to be proactive and contact the council as soon as possible, as they may request evidence of your exemption multiple times per year. Additionally, if you are an international student with a dependent spouse or civil partner, they may also be exempt from council tax if they can provide proof of work restrictions or 'no recourse to public funds' on their biometric residence permit.
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Landlords are responsible for council tax if the property is an HMO
In Sheffield, Council Tax is a daily charge applied to each domestic property. The bill is calculated on the basis that there are at least two people aged 18 or over living in the home. The liable person is the person who appears first on the list:
- Someone who lives in the property and has a freehold interest
- Someone who lives in the property and has a leasehold interest
- Someone who lives in the property and is a statutory or secure tenant
- Someone who lives in the property and has a licence to live in the property
If you are a full-time student, you are generally exempt from paying Council Tax. However, if you own the home you live in or are the sole tenant, and you let out a room or part of your property to non-students, they will be counted as visible adults, and you will be personally liable for the Council Tax charge.
If you are a landlord renting out a property, your tenants are generally liable for the Council Tax. However, if you rent out your property to several people with individual tenancy agreements for part of the building (a House in Multiple Occupation or HMO), you, as the landlord, are liable for the Council Tax. In this case, the council will send the bill directly to you.
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Council tax exemption certificates
Students enrolled full-time at a college or university in Sheffield are exempt from council tax charges. Full-time students are defined as those whose course lasts at least one academic year, involves at least 24 weeks of study, and includes an average of 21 hours of study per week. Students under 20 years of age enrolled in a course lasting more than 3 months with at least 12 hours of study per week between 8 am and 5:30 pm are also considered full-time. Additionally, students over 18 whose parents receive child benefits are also exempt.
Students on a leave of absence from a full-time course, undertaking a placement year, or enrolled in a postgraduate research program remain exempt from council tax charges. EU/International students with visa-dependent spouses or civil partners may also be exempt if they can prove they have no recourse to public funds or are prohibited from taking paid employment, as evidenced by their biometric residence permit.
To claim exemption from council tax, students must obtain a council tax exemption certificate. This can be requested from SSiD or created through the student's MUSE account under "My Services" > "View all Services" > "Council Tax Exemption Letter". Obtaining the certificate through MUSE is the quickest method. Once obtained, the certificate must be presented to the local council to apply for exemption. Students residing in Sheffield can apply through the Sheffield City Council website, while those outside of Sheffield can use the Gov.UK "Find your local council" directory.
It is important to proactively contact the council and provide the exemption certificate, as ignoring council tax arrears can result in legal summons and additional fees. Councils may request evidence of continued exemption multiple times per academic year, so students should be prepared to provide this documentation as needed.
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Council tax arrears
If you've missed a council tax payment, you're in 'arrears', meaning you owe money to the council. Council tax arrears are considered a ''priority debt', which means they take precedence over other debts, such as credit card payments. If you are facing arrears, it is important that you don't ignore the situation. Contact your local council as soon as possible and ask to speak to someone in the council tax office. Explain your circumstances, and they may be able to provide support or advise on your options.
If you are a student, you should provide a council tax exemption certificate to prove that you are exempt. You may be asked to provide evidence of your exemption multiple times a year. If you are struggling financially, you may be eligible to apply for financial support from your university's hardship fund.
If you ignore council tax arrears, the council may take legal action. They could take you to court to retrieve the money, and you will be responsible for paying court costs and possibly bailiff fees, which can add significant expenses to your existing debt. It is much easier to resolve the issue before the council takes legal action, so it is important to be proactive and communicate your situation to the council.
Sheffield City Council provides information on their website about council tax and offers guidance for those facing difficulty in paying. You can also refer to the Gov.UK website for more details on council tax arrears and the available support.
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Council tax discounts
Full-time students in Sheffield are exempt from paying council tax. A household where everyone is a full-time student does not have to pay council tax and should apply for a student exemption online. If there is someone in the household who is not a full-time student, you might still qualify for a discount. However, if two or more people living in the property are not students, no reduction is allowed.
You are considered a full-time student for council tax purposes if you are enrolled at a college, university, or similar, and your course lasts for at least one full academic year, involving at least 24 study weeks per year and an average of 21 hours of study per week. If you are under 20 years old and enrolled on a course lasting more than three months, with at least 12 hours of study per week between 8 am and 5:30 pm, you are also considered full-time. Additionally, if you are over 18 years old but your parents receive child benefit for you, you are also exempt.
On the other hand, you are not considered a full-time student for council tax purposes if you are studying on a correspondence course, evening class, or a course connected with your job, or if you are taking a gap year.
If you are an EU/International student, the council tax rules are the same as for UK students. If you are living with a visa-dependent spouse or civil partner, they may also be exempt from council tax if they can provide proof of their work restrictions and/or 'no recourse to public funds'.
If you are struggling to afford council tax payments, you can apply for a council tax reduction. Sheffield City Council offers information on their website about applying for a reduction if you are on a low income or claim benefits. Your bill could be reduced by up to 100%.
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Frequently asked questions
No, full-time students are exempt from paying council tax in Sheffield. If you are a full-time student and rent a property with others who are also full-time students, you won't have to pay council tax.
If you are a full-time student and live with people who are not students, you won't be named on the bill and won't be required to pay council tax. Only the non-students who are joint tenants are liable.
Part-time students are not considered full-time students for council tax purposes. Therefore, you may be required to pay council tax.
The council tax rules are the same for international students as they are for UK students. If you are an international student living with a visa-dependent spouse or civil partner, they may also be exempt from council tax if they meet certain criteria.
