BEING a university student can be stressful with having to balance your studies, a social life and a job to pay the bills.
One of those bills might include council tax, but it all depends on with whom you live.
1
Do students pay council tax?
If you live in student accommodation or in a house in which everyone is a full-time student, then you are exempt from council tax.
To count as a full-time student, your course must at least be one year long and involve 21 hours of study per week.
If you are studying for a qualification up to A level and are under 20-years-old, then your course must last at least three months and have 12 hours of study per week.
If this applies for you and you still receive a council tax bill, then make sure to apply for an exemption through the GOV.uk website.
If you live in a house where everyone is a full-time student besides for one person for example, you might still be able to get a discount from council tax.
Just use the GOV.uk website and it’ll guide you through there.
What is my council tax band?
To check under which band your property falls, head over to the GOV.uk website and it will guide you through how you can find out.
If you think that you are being charged under the wrong band and you have proof to challenge, it will also allow you to do so.
Most read in Money
If it doesn’t work online, you can contact the VOA via email at [email protected].
You can also call them on 03000501501 if you live in England or on 03000505505 if you live in Wales.
Their offices are open from Monday to Friday from 9am till 4.30pm.
How are council tax bands calculated?
The amount of council tax that you pay depends on the valuation of your property.
All property is valued by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) and then placed in one of eight council tax bands.
The bands for the 2022-23 tax year are:
- Band A – £1,313.98
- Band B – £1,532.98
- Band C – £1,751.98
- Band D – £1,970.97
- Band E – £2,408.96
- Band F – £2,846.96
- Band G – £3,284.95
- Band H – £3,941.94
