Note about council tax for US students living in UK

I wanted to post my experience for any students registered at a US university but living in the UK.  I am a full-time US graduate student spending a year in the UK to do research (university/professorial ties also make me an unofficial exchange student of sorts).

When I visited the council tax office in person, I was told I would have to pay council tax because I wasn't a registered student at a UK university.  However, I had my university graduate affairs office draft a letter on official stationary stating that I am registered as a full-time student - which is true - I'm registered for thesis credit.  They scanned this letter (signed by graduate administrator) & emailed it to me.  Despite the fact that I printed it on an awful printer (the printing truly looked suspect), the council accepted the letter & I am now exempt from council tax.

So, just a note: even if the council says you have to pay, get a letter from your US university & send it to the council.  It could be helpful to do this before leaving the US so you have originals of the letter.

Given the economy, I'm so happy this worked out with little hassle!  Council tax is expensive...

That's good to know. I'll be registered as a full-time student of Indiana University (US), but living in London. 

My husband and I only get a 25% reduction on our council tax even though I am a full-time student. The rule is stated below (provided by my uni's housing department):


Since April 2004 full-time students have been exempt from the Council Tax. Even if
you have a joint tenancy and live with non-students you will not be liable for any of
the tax.

There is a discount of 25% available to households with one non-student, because
Council Tax is based on the assumption that at least two adults live in the dwelling,
and students are classed as invisible for the purposes of council tax.
The spouse and dependants of an international student will also be treated as if they
are full-time students for Council Tax purposes, provided that they are not British
citizens and are prevented from working or claiming welfare benefits by the terms of
their leave to remain in the UK.

If you are repeating part of your course you should still be eligible for council tax
exemption. If you are studying part-time you may be eligible for Council Tax Benefit or an
exemption.

My husband and I only get a 25% reduction on our council tax even though I am a full-time student.

Argh, that's rough!  I don't quite understand why they don't chop it in half... I read the rule, but it still doesn't really make sense.   

We're very fortunate - my husband is a registered UK student, so our place is considered a student dwelling.  I was nervous though - even for our little flat, the tax is still a significant amount of money. 

Quote from: Anglokitty on December 18, 2008, 05:53:08 PM
My husband and I only get a 25% reduction on our council tax even though I am a full-time student.

Argh, that's rough!  I don't quite understand why they don't chop it in half... I read the rule, but it still doesn't really make sense.   

The logic is this. If there is just one adult living in the place that does not mean that the cost to the Council of providing services is necessarily one-half of what it would have been. For example, refuse collection, if they still need to come and empty the bin, the cost of getting there is the same, even if less rubbish is in the bin.

So central Government, not the local authorities, has determined that a 25% discount is due if there is just one "counting adult" in the place.

Angokitty, presumably your spouse is working? If so then he is a "counting adult", and thus liable for Council Tax.

Yes, he is British and working full-time, so he "counts" for council tax, unfortunately. It's so much money, though, especially with only one of us working.

He's going to start writing his MSc dissertation in January - so as a part-time student I hope that the council gives us a further discount! The rule doesn't really explain how they would classify a British person who works full time but is also a part-time student. We'll approach them and see what they say.

I'm pretty sure you have to be full-time to get any sort of break.

I'm a citizen, and part-time student.  The only break I get is -25% for living alone.

That's what I gathered, as well.

Yes, he is British and working full-time, so he "counts" for council tax, unfortunately. It's so much money, though, especially with only one of us working.

I don't know how much he is earning, and in view of :-

He's going to start writing his MSc dissertation in January - so as a part-time student I hope that the council gives us a further discount!

-: if that means that his income will drop, don't overlook the possibility of him claiming Council Tax Benefit. That is designed to help those on low incomes.

If there are any children in your household then this point is irrelevant, but if no children do ensure that he makes clear to the Council about your immigration status, if you still have a time-limited visa with the "No recourse to Public Funds" restriction.

I wanted to post my experience for any students registered at a US university but living in the UK.  I am a full-time US graduate student spending a year in the UK to do research (university/professorial ties also make me an unofficial exchange student of sorts).

When I visited the council tax office in person, I was told I would have to pay council tax because I wasn't a registered student at a UK university.  However, I had my university graduate affairs office draft a letter on official stationary stating that I am registered as a full-time student - which is true - I'm registered for thesis credit.  They scanned this letter (signed by graduate administrator) & emailed it to me.  Despite the fact that I printed it on an awful printer (the printing truly looked suspect), the council accepted the letter & I am now exempt from council tax.

So, just a note: even if the council says you have to pay, get a letter from your US university & send it to the council.  It could be helpful to do this before leaving the US so you have originals of the letter.

You've been lucky to get this exemption! I worked in council tax for a couple of years (don't kill me) and we followed the rules very strictly, which meant that you would have needed a letter from the UK university that you were associated with which stated clearly that you were doing a minimum of 21 hours per week of in class course work.

In fact, most research and masters or PhD level students, overseas or otherwise, are not eligible for council tax discounts, as there is little or no class time involved.

Yes, you were lucky. I had lots of letters and the council here never budged.

I worked in council tax for a couple of years (don't kill me) and we followed the rules very strictly, which meant that you would have needed a letter from the UK university that you were associated with which stated clearly that you were doing a minimum of 21 hours per week of in class course work.

In fact, most research and masters or PhD level students, overseas or otherwise, are not eligible for council tax discounts, as there is little or no class time involved.

This is not correct.  Your borough was not applying the rules strictly, they were applying them wrongly!

The Council Tax regulations say you must be studying for at least 21 hours a week, but this does not need to be formal tuition or timetabled classes.  Any student enrolled on a full-time course is by definition studying more than 21 hours a week, and is therefore eligible for the student exemption from Council Tax. 

For example, here are the rules on the website of Harrow borough, which clarify that a student must have "an average of at least 21 hours a week of study, tuition or work experience":

http://www.harrow.gov.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?documentID=730&pageNumber=16

This is not correct.  Your borough was not applying the rules strictly, they were applying them wrongly!

The Council Tax regulations say you must be studying for at least 21 hours a week, but this does not need to be formal tuition or timetabled classes.  Any student enrolled on a full-time course is by definition studying more than 21 hours a week, and is therefore eligible for the student exemption from Council Tax. 

For example, here are the rules on the website of Harrow borough, which clarify that a student must have "an average of at least 21 hours a week of study, tuition or work experience":

http://www.harrow.gov.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?documentID=730&pageNumber=16

Maybe I wasn't clear in my post. Our interpretation of the rule was 21 hours of tuition, and this doesn't include private study time. If you've been granted an exemption based on private study hours you can consider yourself lucky. To be considered full time your university would have to clearly state that you are doing 21 hours minimum per week, this could be as work placement or classroom based study. It cannot include private study time.

If the rule were simply 21 hours of study per week then part time students could be exempted.

In fact, most research and masters or PhD level students, overseas or otherwise, are not eligible for council tax discounts, as there is little or no class time involved.

That's ridiculous. Research degrees that are classed as full-time are most definitely full-time commitments, particularly in science, and when I did mine there was no question at all by the council of not giving me a council tax exemption. Not being in lectures and tutorials doesn't mean it isn't full-time, and I would have been furious if the council hadn't given an exemption.

[quote="caligurl ]Our interpretation of the rule was 21 hours of tuition, and this doesn't include private study time.[/quote]

Then, sorry to say, that was an incorrect interpretation, and not in accordance with the legislation laid down by central Government.

Above we have been provided with a link to the Harrow website. I think that correctly sums up the situation.