Counsil tax
Council Tax is a charge set by local authorities to help pay for certain public services such as libraries, schools and police.
Full time students do not pay Council Tax. Part time students are liable for Council Tax but you may qualify for Council Tax Support depending on your income.
If you live in a Hall of Residence that is owned or managed by the University, then there is no Council Tax to be paid as the property is exempt.
If you are living in private rented accommodation you will need to get a Council Tax exemption certificate from SSID. This needs to be sent along with a letter asking for exemption or the exemption claim form to the Council Tax department of your local council. For Sheffield send the letter/form to:
The Council Tax Office
Sheffield City Council
PO Box 1310
Sheffield
S1 1UY
If there are people living with you who are not full time students, there will be a Council Tax bill. Full time students do not have to pay this as they are exempt. The bill may be quite high, depending on the Council Tax Band that the property is in. A discount of 25% is available if you are the only non-exempt adult in the house.
If the landlord lives with you, then they are liable for the Council Tax. If everyone living in the house, including the landlord, is a full time student, then there is no Council Tax to pay.
If you are living in a House in Multiple Occupation then your landlord will be liable for the Council Tax.
If you are a full time student on a course that lasts for at least one academic year, you can apply for council tax exemption with a certificate from SSID. Your husband or wife can also apply for exemption as long as they are not a British citizen and are not allowed to claim benefits in the UK. This will usually be the case if they come from outside the European Union. You will need to show the City Council your spouse’s visa or passport to prove this.
If you are doing a short English Language Preparation Course and it lasts for less than 24 weeks, you will have to pay Council Tax.
Students are exempt from paying council tax if they are attending full time. An exemption certificate can be obtained from SSID.
During your writing up period you are not usually required to attend full time. SSID will issue you with an exemption certificate during this period, but your Council may not accept this. If they do not, you can apply for Council Tax Support. However, if you live in Sheffield, Sheffield City Council will accept this and will exempt you from council tax in your writing up period. Please note the situation for other local authorities may vary, and students who are not living in Sheffield should contact their lcoal authority for clarification on their position.
Once you have handed in your thesis and are waiting for your viva, you are normally liable to pay Council Tax as you are not required to attend University full time. However if you live in Sheffield, Sheffield City Council wll give council tax exemption for PhD student up until your viva date or resubmission deadline. You can get your council tax exemption certificate from SSID. Please note the situation for other local authorities may vary, and students who are not living in Sheffield should contact their lcoal authority for clarification on their position.
Once your full time course has finished, you no longer qualify for the student exemption and you will have to pay Council Tax. If you are going to do another course, you are still liable for Council Tax in between both courses as you will not be a full time student.
While you are on a leave of absence you are still a full time student. Therefore you are not liable for Council Tax.
Each property is put into one of eight Council Tax bands according to its value. Find out what band your house or flat is. Council Tax bills are divided into 10 monthly instalments but it is possible to request that your payments are spread over 12 months.
Council Tax Benefit was abolished in April 2013 and replaced with a localised Council Tax Support scheme. This scheme helps working age people liable to pay Council Tax with their bills. In Sheffield,all liable people have to pay 23% of the Council Tax bill and may receive help to pay the remainder from Sheffield's Council Tax Support scheme.If you live outside of Sheffield, you will need to check with your local Council about their scheme.