What is Council Tax?

Council Tax is a tax on the household and not the individual. Your household may be exempt if all residents can prove they are students on full-time courses. For Council Tax purposes a 'full-time course' has to be at least 21 hours a week, unless otherwise stated.

How much is it?

It depends on the area that you live in.

Now most students do not have to pay but some courses at the University are not considered full-time by councils so some students do have to pay. You will also have to pay during any periods between courses. Check the list below to find out if you need to pay Council Tax while you are staying in London.

Students Who do NOT have to pay Council Tax:

• If you are under 18 you are not liable for Council Tax
• If you are age 18 or 19 and on an FE (Level 3) course that is more than 12 hours a week you are not liable to pay Council Tax from the start date to he end date of your course
• If you study full-time and live alone you will not be liable to pay any Council Tax from the start date of your course until the end date of your course
• If you study full-time and live in a household with other people who are all full-time students the household will not be liable to pay any Council Tax. This includes all the Halls and flats managed by the University of the Arts London, Housing Services department
• If you study full-time but you live with an adult who is not a full-time student, a bill will be issued. You should discuss your contribution with the person you live with. However, if you prove you are a full-time student a 25% discount single persons discount should be applied to the bill
• If you study full-time and live with more than one adult who is not a full-time student a Council Tax bill will be issued to the household. There is no discount. You should discuss your contribution with the people you live with
• Students on three year courses do not have to pay during the breaks

*Some students may have to pay:

The Council Tax have different rules from Immigration so even if you are on a 'full-time' course, the Council may ask you to pay tax.
This means that :

Students on some Access courses may have to pay Council Tax
Language Centre students may have to pay Council Tax during the Summer

**Study Abroad Students

People have to pay Council Tax if they are 'solely and mainly' resident in their flat or house in the UK. If you are here for just a few months, the local council may decide that you are not 'solely and mainly' resident and you will not have to pay. Local councils decide this on a 'case by case' basis.

What to do?

You will receive a bill from your council asking you to pay.

• Make sure that all the names of all the people in the flat are on the bill and are all correct.
• Go to your school office in your college and ask for a 'Council Tax Exemption Certificate'.
• Send the certificate to your local council.

Partners of international students may also be exempt from any Council Tax liability. For more information contact Student Services.

If your situation changes

If you move to another flat, you must :

• Write a letter to the council to inform them (if you don't you will continue to receive bills there)
• Register your name in your new flat. If you move to a different council area, you will have to send a new letter from your college.(different councils do not link to each other)
• If another person moves into your flat - make sure that their name is added to the council tax bill and the old name removed.
  

DO NOT IGNORE COUNCIL TAX LETTERS!

If you do not tell the local council that you are a student, they will continue to send you bills. If you have to pay and you don't, then you will have to pay a fine, you may have to go to court and the council may send bailiffs to your house to remove your possessions to sell.

If you have any questions or you have any problems with Council Tax, please contact Student Services as soon as possible. Do NOT wait until the problem gets serious.

Further information can be obtained from UKICSA information sheet entitled 'Council Tax and international students'.

Last updated January 2011