Who has to pay?
Council Tax is a tax collected by your local council wherever you live in the UK. It is used to pay for local services such as schools, rubbish collection, roads and street lighting. People living in privately rented property or who own their home can be liable to pay Council Tax. The amount charged depends on who lives in the property and its value and location. So, which students have to pay?
If you rent a property or own your home, you could be liable to pay Council Tax although special exemption rules apply to full-time students.
To be exempt from paying Council Tax, you must be attending a full-time course that lasts at least one academic year, requires at least 24 weeks' attendance each year, and a minimum of 21 hours' study per week.
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| Important tax information if traveling to UK as a student |
Students registered on part-time courses are not exempt and are liable to pay the Council Tax.
New students
If you move into a property before the start of your course, you may be liable to pay Council Tax in the period leading up to the start of your course. Please bear this in mind when deciding on a date to move in.
However, if you’re aged under 20 and have just completed your A levels or an equivalent course, you should be exempt from paying Council Tax from 1 May until 31 of October - by which time you’ll be enrolled on your full-time course.
International students
You may be in the UK on a Tier 4 visa. Having a Tier 4 visa does not exempt you from paying Council Tax. You are liable to pay the Council Tax in the period leading up to the start of your course and once you complete your course even if your visa ends after this. It is the course completion date that matters, not the end date of your visa.
If you are in the UK on a Short Term Study visa and are completing your full-time degree level course you will also liable to pay the Council Tax once you complete your course. Once again it is the course completion date that matters, not the end date of your visa.
Please also note that you are liable to pay the Council Tax while attending a pre-sessional course or a full-time course that lasts less than one academic year.
All students
If you live in Halls of Residence, you’ll automatically be exempt from paying.
If you live in privately rented accommodation either by yourself or in a house where every adult is a full-time student, you’ll also not have to pay Council Tax, but you must all provide proof of your full-time student status to the local Council Tax Office.
You can request a Council Tax Exemption Certificate from your School Registry Office after enrolment.
If you’re a full-time student sharing with two or more people who aren’t students, a bill will be generated. As a full-time student you aren’t liable to pay but the non-students in the house will be expected to pay. If you provide your Council Tax Exemption Certificate to the Council Tax Office, you should be excluded from the bill and cannot be pursued for any unpaid money.
If you’re a full-time student and you live with only one other person and they are not a full-time student, they are liable to pay the bill but will qualify for a 25% discount called a 'single person's discount'. However, you’ll need to submit your Council Tax Exemption Certificate to be excluded for the discount to be applied.
If you rent and share with others, you should check the terms of your contract, as sometimes Council Tax is included as part of the rent. The agreement may also state you have to pay a share towards Council Tax. If so, you could be liable to contribute towards this cost.
Exception
If you live with any other adults who are not full-time students and you either own the property or you rent and the tenancy agreement is in your name only, you will be liable to pay the Council Tax yourself. Your student status will not exempt you.
Contact the Student Advice office of the UK university you will be studying in if you are unsure of your liability. In addition, you can also find general information on the UK Government website.
Related: Scholarships in Europe for International Students
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