How Council Tax affects students

One of the most important things to do when you start your course is to inform the Council Tax office that you are now a student. You will need to tell the Council when you move in and out of an address as this will help us to work out if you have to pay Council Tax.

If you study at Oxford University your details may have already been given to Oxford City Council. You will need to supply your student ID number to the Council Tax Office so that we can verify your details. You can do this by using the online form below.  Oxford Brookes students should always complete the online form below with all the information requested in order that your application can be considered:

Council Tax student details form

Are you a student?

There are three main categories of students for Council Tax purposes:

• You are a student if you are undertaking a full-time course at a college or university in the UK. (From 13 May 2011 the legislation has changed to undertaking rather than attending and prescribed educational establishments include universities on the ERASMUS programme within the European Union).
• Under 20 years old in part time or full time education.
• Foreign language assistant - registered with the Central Bureau for Educational Visits and working at a school or other educational establishment.

A full-time course is one that:

• lasts for at least one academic year, or if the establishment does not have academic years, for at least one calendar year;
• you normally go to for at least 24 weeks in each academic or calendar year; and
• consists of an average of at least 21 hours a week of study, tuition, work experience or a combination of these.

Do students have to pay Council Tax?

• Properties occupied by full time students only are exempt from payment of Council Tax. You will need to ensure that the Council receive letters from all residents confirming your student status before this exemption can be applied to your Council tax account.
• If you are a student and you share your address with someone who is not a full time student then we can reduce the Council tax bill by 25%.
• If you are a student and you share your address with two or more joint tenants who are not full time students then there is no reduction and the people who are not students will be named on the Council Tax bill.

Which properties are exempt?

• Houses and flats where the only people living there are full time students
• Halls of residence and off-campus properties owned or rented by the university/college to house their students
• Additionally, the foreign spouse or dependant of a student may live in such a property without losing the exemption, as long as the terms of their visa prevent them from taking paid employment or claiming benefits.

How do I get an exemption certificate?

You will need to provide Oxford City Council with a letter from your school, college or university to prove you are a full-time student. Your college is obliged to provide this.

If you study at Oxford University your details may have already been given to Oxford City Council. You will need to supply your student ID number to the Council Tax Office so that we can verify your details. You can do this by using the online form below.  Oxford Brookes students should always complete the online form below with all the information requested in order that your application can be considered:

Council Tax student details form

Responsibilities of students and their landlords

It is the student's responsibility to provide evidence of student status.

If you are a landlord and are liable for the Council tax and you wish to claim an exemption or discount, you should tell us the names and moving in dates of all students in the property. You should also ask the students to provide a Student Certificate which will be issued by their college or university.

Students and landlords should contact the Council as soon as the students move into the property so they do not lose any entitlement to exemptions or discounts. You can provide student details by using our online form.

'Students' not treated as such for Council Tax

If you are studying part time, e.g. at evening classes, by correspondence, or distant learning, it is not possible to be treated as a student for Council Tax purposes. Similarly, if you are studying on 'block release' in conjunction with your employment, you are not a student for Council Tax purposes.

Students studying English at Language Schools

It is unlikely that students studying English at the many language schools in Oxford will be regarded as 'students' for Council Tax purposes. Normally, English Language schools do not have academic years and do not run 'calendar year' courses so the courses are not long enough to be counted. However, if your main residence is not in this country any Council Tax you pay will be reduced by 10%.

Remember - It is most important you tell the Council that you are a full-time student and when you change address. If you don't do this the Council may take recovery action against you which will lead to a Magistrates Court Summons and possibly sending a Bailiff to your address. Both these actions will incur additional costs.

How do I contact the Council Tax Office?

The best way to contact Oxford City Council to advise us of your student status is through the online form below. You must ensure a form is submitted for every student housemate before the exemption can be awarded:

Council Tax student details form

If you have any questions or concerns as to whether you will be classed as a student for Council Tax purposes, please contact Customer Services at Oxford City Council.

You can contact Oxford City Council in the following ways:

• By telephone: 01865 249811 (lines open 8.30am to 6.00pm)
• By email: Email us
• By post:       

Customer Services - Council Tax
Oxford City Council
St Aldate's Chambers
109-113 St Aldate's
Oxford, OX1 1DS

Page last reviewed 1 May 2012