Full-time students may be entitled to a 100% discount on their Council Tax bill. Under Government rules, some residents, including full-time students, can be exempt from paying part or all of the charge.
Council Tax is a yearly bill paid to your local authority. The amount is set by the council to help fund local services. What you pay depends on factors such as your circumstances, your home's valuation band, and how much the council needs to raise to run services.
According to Gov.uk, "you'll usually have to pay Council Tax if you're 18 or over. A full Council Tax bill is based on at least 2 adults living in a home. Spouses and partners who live together are jointly responsible for paying the bill."
How to get a discount as a full-time student
The UK Government confirms that households where everyone's a full-time student do not have to pay Council Tax. If you do get a bill, you can apply for an exemption. However, in a post on X, the UK Government warns that the "discount isn't applied automatically."
To count as a full-time student, your course must last at least one year and involve at least 21 hours of study per week. If you study for a qualification up to A level and you're under 20, your course must last at least 3 months and involve at least 12 hours of study per week.
If anyone in your household isn't a full-time student, you'll still get a Council Tax bill, and you may still be entitled to a discount.
Applying for a Council Tax discount
You need to apply for a Council Tax discount or an exemption, even if you're disregarded, as it is not automatic. You can do that on the Government website. You should contact your local council if you're unsure about whether you can get a discount or who's responsible for paying.
You must contact your local council if you get a discount by mistake. If you do not, you could get a fine, and the council may ask you to pay back the discount.
'Disregarded' groups
The UK Government notes that "some people are not counted when working out how many people live in a property. This means you might be able to apply for a discount on your Council Tax bill if you get one."
These people are classed as 'disregarded'. You're disregarded if you're under 18 years old, on certain apprentice schemes, 18 or 19 years old and in full-time education, a full-time student at college or university, under 25 years old and get funding from the Education and Skills Funding Agency, a student nurse, a foreign language assistant registered with the British Council, severely mentally impaired, a live-in carer for someone who is not your partner, spouse, or child under 18, or a diplomat.
In advice for students in England, Citizens Advice says if you're a full-time student and need to take time out from your course, for example, because of an illness or family commitments, you should "still be regarded as a student for the purposes of council tax," assuming you intend to return to the course.
