Council tax discounts and exemptions Occupied properties Apply for a council tax band reduction for physically disabled people Apply for a reduction in council tax if a person with. Dont include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details. The average council tax bill hovers at around 1671, or council tax band D, which is roughly 140 per month. Some councils can be lenient on you not letting them know straight away, but why take the risk? You can also get the exemption if a property is lived in by students and dependents from outside the European Economic Area, who have an immigration restriction on taking up work or claiming benefits while in the UK. Take your search to the next level by searching for university events. Filter from hundreds of universities based on your preferences. But for that, you will have to understand who qualifies for council tax exemption (and were here to help you with that). If you have a low income and little savings, you may be able to get. No endorsement or partnership is implied. It is your responsibility to update your local authority with information which may affect your eligibility if your situation changes (if exemption is granted). So, let's debunk some of the most common myths and set the record straight. Overseas dependent: This is basically a child or partner who cannot legally work in the UK. Alternatively please email your documents to revenuesscanning@ealing.gov.uk clearly stating your enquiry and your reference. When sharing a house with fellow students, ensuring everyone is splitting the council tax bill equally is important as it helps manage finance as an international student. The property wont be exempt from council tax and youll get a bill. Alternatively please email your documents to revenuesscanning@ealing.gov.uk clearly stating your enquiry and your reference. If you would like to find out more about this in detail, there are examples in case law: Yes, we can issue you with a letter, and you can use it to apply for Council tax exemption if you wish. This might mean that whoever does have to pay the council tax can get a discount. So, be patient and keep an eye out for any correspondence from the council.. To work out who is liable to pay the council tax, according to the Citizens Advice Bureau, the government uses a hierarchy system: 1. As a student, you may be eligible for council tax exemption, which means you won't have to pay council tax at all! Understanding council tax is important because it can significantly impact your finances. However, there have been occasions where this legal definition has been challenged and it has been found that there are courses which meet the criteria for study time and could be deemed eligible. Advice can vary depending on where you live. A council tax certificate issued from the college or university for each student, confirming: Please send evidence confirming the status of any non-EEA dependents living in the property. Someone who normally lives in a property but moves away temporarily (for example because of work, or travelling, or family circumstances) may still be seen to have their main home in the property, unless they become responsible for council tax at another address. If you do get a bill, you can apply for an exemption. It's easy to fall for these myths and end up with a surprise council tax bill. 3. Advice for people affected by child abuse. So, if you and all of your housemates are full-time students, you should be exempt from paying council tax. You could also buy second-hand items, which are often much cheaper than new, or take advantage of free or low-cost activities in your local area. Special rules apply where you live only with your non-British spouse, partner or dependant. Report a change in circumstances. If you've finished a course and youre waiting to start another, you might have to pay council tax - for example, if you've finished an undergraduate degree and plan to start a postgraduate course in the next academic year. The first step is to contact your local council to request a council tax exemption form. This won't exempt you from paying altogether, but it could reduce the amount you need to pay. Look for student discounts wherever possible, for example, on travel, food, and entertainment. Council tax exemption has traditionally only been possible for full-time students.What is the definition of a full-time student for council tax purposes?To count as a full-time student, your course must: How are distance learning courses defined?Distance learning courses are officially considered part-time by Kings. By exploring all of your options and taking advantage of available discounts and cost-saving strategies, you can reduce your living expenses as a student and make the most of your budget. Though council tax is usually billed for on a yearly cycle, you can request bills monthly. For council tax purposes, a property is likely to be an HMO if its occupied by: If you receive a council tax bill but you don't think you should have, you can apply for an exemption. From paying for textbooks to buying endless cups of coffee to keep us going through those late-night study sessions, it can seem like our money disappears in the blink of an eye. A full council tax bill is based on at least 2 adults living in a property. In order to apply for this reduction, if you are studying at the University of Reading you must provide your Student ID number. We believe everyone should have the choice to find the right course at the right university. If you fall into any of the below categories, you will be considered a disregarded person: There will be other exemptions of course and certain discounts or grants available for different students, but if you fall into the above categories, you will be given disregard status and will have student council tax exemption. While you may have been entitled to a council tax student exemption when you were at university, when you leave university, even after completing a postgraduate degree, you will need to start paying council tax, whether you rent or own and there will be no student exemption council tax. Take 3 minutes to tell us if you found what you needed on our website. The end date depends on a few factors, so let's break it down. As a full-time student, you might need to take some time out from your course, for example, because of an illness or family commitments. If you're living with other students who aren't eligible for council tax exemption, it's only fair that everyone contributes towards the cost. Households where everyone is a student do not have to pay council tax and can apply for an exemption. Involves at least 24 weeks of study per year. Involves at least 21 hours of study per week. This means a property where one of two adult residents do not count, will still get 25% off the bill. However, there have been occasions where this legal definition has been challenged and it has been found that there are courses which meet the criteria for study time and could be deemed eligible. Some university-owned accommodation may be exempt, but private accommodation is generally not. Registered number 01436945 England Registered office: Citizens Advice, 3rd Floor North, 200 Aldersgate, London, EC1A 4HD. We will either update your bill or let you know why we cannot. We can only issue letters confirming factual information confirmed by your record and department. Sometimes the council likes to do checks on houses that haven't paid council tax just yet and having a council tax student certificate is likely to save . Please check My Account for updates. Manage your housing benefits account. By knowing whether or not you are eligible for council tax exemption, you can avoid unnecessary expenses and save money to spend on things that matter to you (like exploring new cafes in your area). But the decision on your eligibility for exemption will always sit with your local authority.Overall, courses which are defined as part-time are usually not regarded as eligible for council tax exemption since they dont usually meet the criteria for 21 hours+ over 24 weeks+, as outlined above. While that implies a horrible standard that creates a new Arthur Fleck, this is only in the context of council tax and nothing else. It can save you hundreds of pounds each year, which can be better spent on your education or other important expenses. You won't be needing a student discount for council tax, but since student and council tax dont go hand-in-hand, you will be getting something that will exempt you from having to pay tax. A council tax certificate issued from the college or university for each student, confirming: Please send evidence confirming the status of any non-EEA dependents living in the property. 1 or more tenants who each have their own tenancy agreement. Please tell us more about why our advice didn't help. While it's true that many students are eligible for exemption, it's not automatic. Learn more now. However, whoever is liable to pay the council tax might qualify for a discount. Typically, the person occupying the property is liable not the landlord unless there is joint tenancy and the landlord has arranged for this, for example, in properties like care homes or refuge centres. Discounts for full-time students Households where everyone's a full-time student do not have to pay Council Tax. Council tax exemption student only works if you inform your council. If you would like to find out more about this in detail, there are examples in case law:Valuation Tribunal L V-S and Royal Borough of Kingston Upon Thames 21/03/2019 Can Student Services give me a letter to apply for Council tax exemption?Yes, we can issue you with a letter, and you can use it to apply for Council tax exemption if you wish.Your letter will contain the following: We will liaise with your department directly to confirm the dates of your study on current or past modules within the current academic year.Important to know: How can I get support and advice on this?As with determining eligibility for any benefit, determining eligibility for council tax exemption can be complex if you are not classified as a full-time student. Mental impairment If you or someone you live with are severely mentally impaired, you may be exempt from paying council tax. If you have questions and want to have a better understanding of council tax, you are welcome to contact the, As an alternative, you can look into applying for a, Local authorities can choose how to operate this benefit, which means that having local knowledge tailored to your particular authority is much better, so we advise seeking out local support in your area using, If you considering doing this, you are best to seek advice before proceeding and contact the, Valuation Tribunal L V-S and Royal Borough of Kingston Upon Thames 21/03/2019. As you may or may not know, moving into student accommodation is likely to incur council tax student charges. Households where everyone is a student do not have to pay council tax and can apply for an exemption. Council tax eligibility and exemption is set in law and not something which is decided by King's or any university. If you pay council tax, it kicks in the moment your rental agreement does and not on the day you move in. Debunking common myths about council tax exemption for students. Well, for a student living with a non-student, there will still be a council tax charge, but students will not have to pay. Youre offline. Your property is exempt from council tax if its only occupied by full-time university or college students. Students living in halls of residence are exempt from paying council tax. This could include a letter from your university or college confirming your enrollment, or a copy of your student ID card. When applying for council tax exemption as a student, there are a few common mistakes to watch out for that can delay or even prevent your application from being approved.. We aim to give you an answer within 10 working days. You can also upload any other documents which support your claim. When Do Universities Confirm Your Place in 2023? As a distance learner, you have a greater degree of flexibility over how and when you study, but you are only deemed to be actively studying when you are enrolled on a module. Wed like to set additional cookies to understand how you use GOV.UK, remember your settings and improve government services. This would be issued by the university or college for each student who has moved away. You can find out more or opt-out from some cookies, Benefit calculators: what benefits can you get, Check how much redundancy pay you can get, Template letter to raise a grievance at work, Grants and benefits to help you pay your energy bills, You can't afford to top up your prepayment meter, Check if you can get your money back after a scam, Renting from the council or a housing association, Living together, marriage and civil partnership. Applying for council tax exemption can be done easily via the gov.uk council website. This means we cannot determine if you definitely are or are not eligible. Discretionary payments and discounts. Normally require at least 21 hours of study, tuition or work experience per week during term time. The list includes halls of residence (but subject to qualification conditions which require it to be owned or managed by an institution or for an institution has nomination rights) and dwellings occupied solely by students . Registered charity number 279057 VAT number 726 0202 76 Company limited by guarantee. You won't be needing a student discount for council tax, but since student and council tax don't go hand-in-hand, you will be getting something that will exempt you from having to pay tax. This is a read only version of the page. As a student, its important to take advantage of every opportunity to reduce your living costs; council tax exemption is one of the most significant ways to do that. It may take longer if we are waiting for a reply from the college or university. But you must remember to apply! Apply for housing benefit and council tax reduction. Review of your housing benefit claim : If you have received a letter asking you to complete a review . The local council might ask for proof that you're a full-time student. Not all students will be given one, but some local councils will give students a tax exemption certificate. Also, understanding the council tax exemption rules can help you avoid getting into trouble with your local council, which can save you a lot of hassle in the long run. As such, any letter we issue needs to be clear about the mode of study. If you're sharing a house with other students, you need to make sure that everyone is splitting the council tax bill fairly. Fill out the council tax exemption form completely and accurately. The course is at least 24 weeks and has at least 21 hours per week study, tuition or work experience. We check and review all claims for a discount. Some people are not included (disregarded) when we count the number of adults living in a property. If you or someone you live with is liable to pay council tax, you might be able to get help. 1. This will depend on your student status, but for the most part, university students don't pay council tax of any kind. In this instance, full-time students means students that are on a course for a year or longer and must have 21 hours of study every week. Doing so can avoid unexpected bills and save money on living costs. You can also get the exemption if a property is lived in by students and dependents from outside the European Economic Area, who have an immigration restriction on taking up work or claiming benefits while in the UK. We can only explain the eligibility criteria and help to identify if you are likely or unlikely to fit that criteria and explain why. You can conveniently check your local council tax band by visiting the gov.uk website or reviewing your rental agreement. We use cookies to improve your experience of our website. Council tax discounts and exemptions Find out if you should pay less or no council tax through a discount or exemption. 3. Name and address of the college or university, Full name of the student and date of birth, Details of course i.e. One common myth is that all students are automatically exempt from paying council tax. The credit value will have an equivalent number of notional study hours, and this is what we use to calculate how many hours of study per week you are expected to be doing. This is known as a. 1. We check all claims for student reductions against internal and external records. Student halls of residence are automatically exempt. To find out what this is, you are best to contact your department.Definitions in lawCouncil tax eligibility and exemption is set in law and not something which is decided by Kings or any university. Check that you meet all eligibility criteria before applying. That's why were here to help you get through the task of managing taxes. Council tax exemption has traditionally only been possible for full-time students. Households where everyones a full-time student do not have to pay Council Tax. You can also get the exemption if a property is lived in by students and dependents. As with determining eligibility for any benefit, determining eligibility for council tax exemption can be complex if you are not classified as a full-time student. Its best to inform your council as early as possible and not run the risk. Make sure you do your research and understand the rules and requirements. To count as a student, you must be doing a full-time course at a university or college that: If you are 18 or 19 in further education, your course must include at least 12 hours study per week. An owner of the property where no one is resident. Learn about hundreds of university subjects. You can change your cookie settings at any time. This means we cannot determine if you definitely are or are not eligible. Ultimately, being proactive and resourceful is the key to managing your finances as a student. If this affects you, you might be able to challenge the local council's decision and you should get advice from your students union or universitys advice centre.
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