do international students pay council tax
If you are required to provide evidence of your status, your institution must provide you with a Council Tax certificate (usually a printed statement), free of charge, confirming that you are a full time student or student nurse. There are some special tax and National Insurance rules that affect international students who come to the UK to study. In May 2012, Mr Justice Sales in the High Court dismissed such an interpretation by the London Borough of Harrow on this basis, in a case specifically about the council tax liability of the dependant of a student. An EEA or Swiss national, or the family member of an EEA or Swiss national, who is exercising a right of free movement in the UK, Settled in the UK (with 'indefinite leave to enter' or 'indefinite leave to remain'). UKCISA is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (Company Number 4507287)
Academic visitors do not qualify as ‘students’ for Council Tax purposes, so you will usually be counted as a resident adult for the bill. As a student you may not have to pay council tax if the property you live in is exempt. However local authorities decide sole or main residence on a case by case basis. Council Tax is set by Local Authorities to help pay for certain services that they provide. You may not be considered a full time student for council tax purposes if you are: Council Tax reductions. If there is only one adult in a household then they may be eligible for a discount of 25%. Halls of residence. You can check your dwelling's band online. The good news for our friends across the pond is that the same rules that apply to UK students, apply for international students, too. You will qualify for a full rebate if you fall into one of these categories: Placement students, and/or. Many students pay more tax in the UK than the law requires – this guidance aims to ensure that international students in the UK can understand the UK tax system so that they pay no more tax than is necessary. If you are an overseas student enrolled to study in Australia in a course that lasts for six months or more, we generally regard you as an Australian resident for tax purposes. If you are a post graduate student, you will only be exempt from paying council tax during your taught modules. writing up your thesis or dissertation (so long as you remain enrolled at your college or university during this time), studying full-time at an educational institution in Europe for part of your UK course, or. studying full-time at an educational institution in Europe for part of your UK course, or. If you are a student, you are exempt from paying Council Tax if you live: in a flat, house or bedsit on your own; in a flat, house or bedsit with other students only; in a room in halls of residence; If you meet the above conditions, the property will still be exempt from council tax … While it is unlikely that full-time international students are eligible for a 'Council Tax reduction', if your immigration permission has the condition ‘no recourse to public funds’ and you have been in receipt of a 'Council Tax reduction', you are possibly breaching this condition. If it fails to do so within that time or if you disagree with its decision you can appeal to an Independent Valuation Tribunal. If you are studying for a nursing qualification then you may meet the definition of a student on a full time course (see Who is a "student" and the requirements of paragraph (iii)). non-EEA/Swiss spouses or civil partners or dependants of students who hold immigration permission for a limited period of time (known as 'limited leave to remain') and who are prevented from taking employment or claiming public funds as a condition of their leave. You will stop being regarded as a full time student if you have completed, abandoned, or are no longer permitted by your college or university to undertake the course. If you are undertaking a full time course of study as in paragraph (iii), this applies from the day that your course starts. There is not a simple yes or no answer because even as a student you must meet certain requirements. I would involve the council in this. If you do not meet the full time student definition then you will not be exempt from paying Council Tax. If the only non-student adult in your dwelling is your spouse (husband or wife), civil partner or an adult dependant, the dwelling may still be exempt. You should contact your local authority immediately if you have received a bill and you think it is for the wrong amount or that you are exempt from paying the bill. council tax reduction under a council tax reduction scheme made under section 13A of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 in relation to England or Wales. appeal to an Independent Valuation Tribunal. UKCISA is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales
A full council tax bill is based on at least 2 adults living in a home. What council tax band am I? As a student in higher education you will be exempt from paying some taxes altogether or will pay a reduced amount, and Council Tax is one of them. what their status is in relation to Council Tax, and whether they will
If this is the case, you may be exempt from paying Council Tax. If you are in the UK for a short period (for example, you are on a short course, and the total amount of time you spend in the UK will only be for a few months), the local authority may accept that you are not ‘solely or mainly resident’. You are a part-time student, studying for less than 21 hours a week and your course lasts for less than 24 weeks. You should keep in contact with the local authority about this, and it is usually best to seek independent advice. Local authorities in England and Wales have discretionary powers to reduce council tax in an individual case, for example on grounds of hardship or as a result of misfortune such as flooding of a property. However, if you do not provide information in the format of a certificate, your local authority may not accept this and you may need to challenge this by appealing. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. The bill should provide you with instructions of how to notify your local authority. In order to establish how much of the full council tax charge needs to be paid, the local authority will count the number of adults who are living in the dwelling. They are not a British citizen and are prevented by immigration rules from “taking paid employment or from claiming benefits”. This covers almost all spouses, civil partners and dependants from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland who come to join an international student in the UK. As your personal circumstances have an effect on what you pay, reductions come into place if you live on your own or no one in the house qualifies as an adult. This information may be printed and reproduced provided it is copied unaltered
If you do not have a Tier 4 visa, and therefore can stay in the UK during such a period of absence, you may still be regarded as a student for Council Tax purposes if you continue to be enrolled on a course that meets the requirements of the definition of full time study. Spouses of non-EEA international students will have the student's exemption extended to include them if: they are non-British and non-EEA citizens; the terms of their visa exclude them from working or claiming benefits Being in the UK on a visa does not exempt you from paying council tax. A student will not be liable for the council tax bill where they: Where a student is the only resident or has the most secure legal status in the property (for example, they are the owner and everyone else is a tenant), so is solely liable for the bill, they will remain liable. If you're on a supplementary year due to ill health but your university classes this as 'part time-variable' do you have to pay council tax? Introduction to UKCISA for Chinese students, Healthcare in the UK for EU, EEA and Swiss students. The status of a building and of the occupants are both important in determining the liability to council tax. Some local authorities now have online forms for you to complete, and may have arrangements with local colleges and universities to enable them to verify a student’s status directly, rather than relying on the provision of a certificate, so it is advisable to check your local authority’s website for its procedure. What you do: Apply to your Council for the discount/exemption. You will count as a student for Council Tax purposes if you are: (i) under 20 years old, and studying for a qualification up to or equivalent to A level or Higher Scottish Certificate of Education on a course lasting 3 months or more involving a minimum of 12 hours a week daytime study; or, (ii) a foreign language assistant working in a school or educational institution and registered with the British Council; or. However, they will ‘disregard’ certain resident adults, including: For other categories of disregarded adults, contact your local authority. Find out what Council Tax is and how you can opt out of paying it as an international student. The value of the property is calculated by the local authority by placing it into one of eight ‘bands’, and you can check which band your property fall into by going to the Government website and entering your postcode. Council Tax is set by local authorities in England, Scotland and Wales to pay for local services that they provide, such as rubbish collection, the police and the fire brigade. St Albans Place London N1 0NX. and in its entirety, including UKCISA's logo, disclaimer, copyright statement
02 August 2018, Last modified:
This information is given in good faith and has been carefully checked. Each local authority will set out who is entitled to a 'Council Tax reduction', and entitlement for a 'Council Tax reduction' may vary for different local authorities. The UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) is the UK's national advisory body serving the interests
The rules of Council Tax are complex and the above is a general guide. I’ve failed part of my course and have to repeat a year – will I have to pay council A full -time student enrolled on a course which lasts for a minimum of 24 weeks in each academic year where you study for 21 hours per week during term time. Local authorities may accept weekly or fortnightly payments. The liable person(s) is responsible for informing the local authority of any changes in residence that may affect liability or the amount of the bill, and could be charged a penalty if he or she fails to do so. You may be in the UK on a Tier 4 visa or other type of visa. Once all student evidence is received, a council tax student reduction can then be considered. Money off for a home that's empty while you're away studying. If you are a student from elsewhere in the EU, you may still be regarded as a student for Council Tax purposes. You can check their immigration status by looking at their visa or Biometric Residence Permit. Help us improve your experience by taking our short survey. Some people do not have to pay council tax and some people get a discount. Its registered office is at 1st Floor, Noble House, 3-5 Islington High Street, London, N1 9LQ, © 2019 UK Council for International Student Affairs, Click here to register if you work at a member institution, Corporate and education sector organisation members, Corporate and education sector organisations application form, Code of practice for members and subscribers, Council Tax and ‘no recourse to public funds’, You are sharing the dwelling with your spouse/civil partner/unmarried partner (who is not a ‘student’ and does not have a prohibition on employment or no recourse to public funds condition attached to their immigration permission), and you have both signed the tenancy agreement. If you require further information please contact Cardiff Council on Tel: 029 2087 2087 or access the student briefing notes on the UKCISA website . International students What is council tax? If all of the occupiers of a home are students, the dwelling is completely exempt from council tax. or are a postgraduate doctor or dentist, then they may not be
Who is liable to pay the bill depends on the status of the adults who are solely or mainly resident in the dwelling, for example, whether someone is an owner or tenant, and also the type of accommodation that it is. The great news is that some UK universities even offer their own financial support for international students. You pay tax on your earnings at the same rate as other residents. How much will it cost to study in the UK? living in England and Wales and undertaking a course with a work placement where the period of time on work placements exceeds the total combined periods of study or tuition, unless you are undertaking a course of initial teacher training; undertaking a condensed course, where the total period of study has been reduced to less than an academic or calendar year; undertaking re-sits or repeating part of a course that does not require 21 hours or more study per week; writing up your thesis or dissertation, and your college or university does not enrol students during this period; an NUS or Student Union sabbatical officer and are not studying full time (if you have not completed your studies then the situation is less clear); being sponsored by your institution under the doctorate extension scheme and have completed your doctorate; or, Accommodation provided by the university or college that is occupied only or mainly by students (for example, a hall of residence), Other dwellings (for example, a privately rented flat or house) occupied only by students. Council tax is paid to your local council so that they can spend the money on providing local services like transport, police, fire, libraries, leisure and recreation, and rubbish collection. If you have a Tier 4 visa then in most cases you would need to leave the UK during such a period of absence from studies, because the institution will be suspending your Tier 4 sponsorship and your visa would be subject to curtailment. Households where everyone’s a full-time student do not have to pay Council Tax. Special rules apply where you live only with your non-British spouse, partner or dependant. HMRC will then work out how much tax you need to pay. At this point you will be liable for Council Tax. Great British Mag is a digital magazine that helps students interested in studying in the UK decide whether it is the best place for them and, once they have decided to come to the UK, provide insights that help them every step of the way. Money off council tax for students. You are the only adult resident in the dwelling, You are sharing the dwelling with the landlord or owner, You are living in a ‘house in multiple occupation’ (HMO) - see below, Spouse/civil partner/unmarried partner as a student is exempt from liability (see below), You are sharing the dwelling with your spouse or civil partner (who is not a ‘student’ and does not have a prohibition on employment or no recourse to public funds condition attached to their immigration permission), and only you have signed the tenancy agreement, Spouse/civil partner/unmarried partner as they are automatically liable even if they are not joint tenants. If there is a period from the start date of your tenancy whereby all tenants are not full time students, then there will be a council tax charge that the tenants will need to pay if tenants held a joint tenancy agreement. A Council Tax bill is calculated by the local authority based on the value of the property you live in and the number of permanent residents live in the property that are over 18 years old. In an HMO different households occupy the same building but share certain facilities, such as a bathroom or kitchen, and each household signs a separate tenancy agreement. Council tax is generally payable by any household. However, if you suspend studies for a longer period or leave your studies you will need to get in touch with your local authority who will adjust your Council Tax liability. I'm not sure I'm afraid. Part-time students. Not only does it keep your records up-to-date, it will prevent erroneous council tax charges and much more. However you may still be liable for a bill if you are the only liable person, or if all the jointly liable people are students. For further information contact your local authority. If you are undertaking a work based qualification as part of an NHS apprenticeship then you will not count as a ‘student’ for the purpose of an exemption, but you may be deemed to be an ‘apprentice’, who can be ‘disregarded’ when the bill is calculated. I am an international student - What are the rules for me? For example, if the claimant is no longer eligible for a single person discount because of your presence in the dwelling, and therefore the amount they claim increases, then it risks breaching the conditions of your leave. If it fails to do so within that time or if you disagree with its decision, then you can appeal to an Independent Valuation Tribunal. If any students have received any payments from a foreign country, then it is not taxable under UK law, as long as they … an EEA or Swiss national, or the family member of an EEA or Swiss national, who is exercising a right of free movement in the UK, or. You are sharing the property with a British citizen or someone settled in the UK, with indefinite leave to enter or remain as well as someone from the EEA or Swiss national, or the family member of an EEA or Swiss national, who is exercising a right of free movement in the UK. NO PART OF IT MAY BE REPRODUCED
Money off for students or people living with students. Some people are eligible for council tax reductions. Who has to pay council tax? Paragraph 6 of the Immigration Rules defines ‘public funds’ and this definition specifically lists ‘Council Tax Reduction’ as a public fund: Every local authority operates a ‘Council Tax Reduction’ scheme for some people on low incomes who are liable for Council Tax. would normally be jointly liable with non-students because they are joint tenants (ie have signed the same tenancy agreement). going to the Government website and entering your postcode. Although your institution may be required by law to provide you with a certificate, a student certificate is not required in order for you to qualify for a discount, and information in an alternative form from your college or university should be deemed to be satisfactory evidence of your status. For more information on these discounts, and for guidance on reductions for those with a disability, see Council Tax information available on Gov.uk. If these services are unable to help you, the following agencies provide a lot of useful information about council tax, debt and housing issues on their websites and can sometimes advise on individual matters: You can also check the UK government’s website for general information about Council Tax. In this situation, the local council can only pursue the non-students for payment of the council tax bill. An earlier judgment by Lord Denning in the case of Crosfield Electronics v Baginsky and Others [1975] 1 W.L.R. You can find out who your local authority is here. Depending on your residence (and domicile) position, there may be UK tax to pay on the foreign income and gains. If the bill is wrong, the local authority may agree that you can delay payment until the bill is corrected. (c) involves at least 21 hours study, classes or work experience a week during term. Students are exempt from paying any Council Tax if they live in university halls of residence, or in a house where everyone is classed as a full-time student. Do international students have to pay Council Tax. You will be exempt from paying Council Tax if you meet the Council Tax definition of ‘student’. The authority then has two months to decide whether you are liable to pay the bill. If your course lasts a year you are classed as a full time student and therefore exempt. a council tax reduction pursuant to the Council Tax Reduction (Scotland) Regulations 2012 or the Council Tax Reduction (State Pension Credit) (Scotland) Regulations 2012. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. If you disagree with the bill, have difficulty paying it, or have allowed arrears to build up and owe a lot of money, you should seek advice from your university or Citizens Advice. You should contact your local authority immediately if you have received a bill and think that: The letter should provide you with instructions of how to notify your local authority and how to notify them of any information that you believe is incorrect. Full-time students don’t usually have to pay council tax. (iii) studying and enrolled at an institution in the UK, or in another country of the European Union, on a course which: (a) lasts at least one academic year, or one calendar year if your educational institution does not have academic years; and, (b) requires you to undertake the course for at least 24 weeks a year; and. You will need to seek advice from your
If you rent privately and have returned to the UK on a Short Term Study visa to complete your full-time deg… The local authority will usually accept this. However, you may be deemed to be a ‘disregarded’ person when the Council Tax bill is calculated. If you are on a short-term English course and do not intend to continue to a degree course with the University of Essex you will not be eligible for Council Tax exemption. If you are deemed to be ‘solely or mainly’ resident in the UK and your course does not last for one academic or calendar year, then you will not meet the definition of student and the relevant exemptions or disregards may not apply to you. This generally happens because while the law says that the concession is for a dependant who is prevented from taking paid employment or from claiming public funds, the local authority may interpret the word "or" to mean "and". The risks of using essay writing agencies, 10 ways to stay in the UK after your studies, Where to get help when your university is closed. 1135 was not specifically related to council tax or to students, but did have the same interpretation of the word "or". This tax is paid to the local authority and in England, Scotland, and Wales it is called ‘Council Tax’ and in Northern Ireland it is called ‘Rates’.