Council Tax and students

• Which students can get an exemption or discount
• How long does it last?
• Evidence we need
• If you are no longer a student
• Applying for an exemption or discount

The full council tax bill assumes there are two adults living in a property.

If everybody in the household is a full time student there will be nothing to pay. An exemption will be given for as long as all the adults in the property are students.

If one of the adults in the property stops being a student or a non-student moves in the exemption will stop – but you may still be entitled to a discount if there is only one non-student in the property.

Which students can get an exemption or discount?

To qualify for an exemption or discount you must either be:

• Taking a full-time course of education in the EU in a further or higher education establishment. The course must last at least one year and must require the student to undertake periods of study, tuition or work experience which together amount to at least 21 hours per week for at least 24 weeks in each year
• Under 20 years of age and attending a course which lasts more than three calendar months and involves at least 12 hours attendance per week between 8am and 5.30pm. It cannot be a correspondence course or part of the person's job nor must it be a course of higher education
• A foreign language assistant appointed by a school or college in Britain which is registered with the British Council

In addition, a person who is the spouse or dependant of a student is not counted provided they are not a British Citizen and are prevented by immigration regulations from taking paid employment or claiming benefits whilst in the UK.

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How long does the exemption or discount last?

The exemption or discount will last for the duration of the course.

The period of a student’s course runs from the day they begin the course and continues until it is completed or the student leaves the course uncompleted.

Vacations during the course are treated as part of the period of the course.

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Evidence we need

A certificate is required as evidence of student status and must be received before a reduction can be applied.

The student certificate must contain the following information:

• The name and address of the educational establishment issuing the certificate
• The full name of the student to whom it is issued
• The student's date of birth (if known to the institution)
• A statement certifying that the person is (or has) followed a course of education as a student, and
• The date when the person became a student and the date the person's course is expected to end (or ended)

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If you are no longer a student

If you need to tell us about any changes to your household you should contact us. Failure to do so may result in a penalty being imposed.

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Applying for an exemption or discount

To apply for an exemption or discount complete the student form in My Account.

You will first need to click on 'Apply for Council Tax discounts’ then click on 'View Council Tax discount services’ and select ‘Apply for a reduction if you are a student or have a student living with you’.

You must attach a copy of your certificate to your application.

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