phd writing up council tax

Council Tax Exemption: PhD and MPhil students writing up a thesis

Full-time PhD students will automatically be certified as exempt from Council Tax during their registration and fee-paying period (normally 3 years). After that, they are not registered as full-time students, and are no longer required to be resident in Aberystwyth or to study on a full-time basis. Many will go into full-time employment while completing their thesis. The University does not, therefore, automatically notify the Council of exemption from Council Tax for full-time PhD students after their registration period ends. However, certificates of exemption are provided on request to students up to the end of the fourth year because the course normally takes 4 years to complete and we recognise that many students will continue to study full-time in that period.

Please note that exemption will not normally be provided after the 4 th year for PhD students, or after 18 months for MPhil students, even where an extension to the submission deadline has been approved. This is based on legal advice that the basis for exemption is the length of the course and not the time taken by an individual student to complete the course.

Students who require certificates of exemption can have a look at our Certification website for more information and how to get in touch.

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Council tax phd student writing uppercase

Exercising your council tax eligibility may well be a headache, particularly as every conditions differs. Employ this help guide to determine whether you’re exempt from getting to cover! Credit: Jason Rogers – Flickr Council tax is just one of these horrible products that everyone must endure throughout our adult lives. Nevertheless the good factor is, in case you’re a full-time student. you can delay facing around it for a short period longer!

However, it’s helpful to know there are specific situations where you might like to covering out some council tax monies when you’re students – continue studying to discover everything you should know.

What’s within the following sentences?

What’s council tax together with exactly what does it purchase.

Council tax could be a yearly charge compensated in 11 or 12 monthly bills all year round. Council tax prices is produced per household as opposed to per person. that is calculated using the valuation within the property you’re moving into.

All United kingdom characteristics are separated into different value bands (A-H in England and Scotland A-I in Wales) and depend inside your postcode and exactly how much the home was worth in April 1991.

The tax spent goes to the area council to foot the quantity for such things as rubbish collections, street cleaning, local schools, roadworks, etc. In Scotland, your council tax also covers water and sewerage. Lovely!

May I be exempt from getting to cover council tax?

Any household that’s occupied solely by full-time students will probably be qualified for just about any a whole exemption on council tax.

Council tax phd student writing uppercase time students will be

For people who’ve an issue where everyone are full-time students aside from one individual who’s not only a student, regrettably (by themselves account no under!) they’ll need to pay the quantity themselves, and could get yourself a single person discount of 25% .

Therefore, it may be worth selecting your flatmates carefully prior to in to a brand-new property, like everyone else have a mix of students and non-students, individuals who aren’t entirely-time education can certainly track of some a raw deal whether they have couple of other tax payers to part ways the obligations with!

As outlined above formerly, to get qualified for just about any council tax exemption you have to be studying full-time – part-time students still pay (but may be qualified for almost any reduction).

Qualifying for exemption

You’ll be disregarded in case you’re the following:

Council tax phd student writing uppercase 8217t technically be considered

There is a couple of exceptions to the people, in the event you’re puzzled by your particular situation begin to see the government’s official council tax page .

Where to find exemption

Credit: Julia Roy – Flickr For the way the area council approach things, having your exemption can be done inside a few momemts and also have a couple of days (or days, after they’re particularly sluggish). Some councils will certainly have you ever ring them up and offer them your company, student number and uni course and they also’ll arrange your exemption digitally if you’re still at risk.

Other councils might request what’s known as ‘certificate of student status ‘ to be able to prove that you simply’re entirely-time eduction. You can pick one of those up out of your college (normally inside the admissions office) and publish it for that local council.

Other universities have online systems that you can register to yourself as well as instantly produce a letter and send it for that council.

So basically, how easy this method is simply depends how techy your uni and council are!

In case you’re battling to obtain the right contact information for your local council, the Directgov site offers an expedient set of contact information which may be worth searching at.

How about summer time time some time to focus breaks?

It’s really a little gray position for a lot of students with regards to getting to cover tax with the summer time time time a few days or during study breaks.

The simplest way to deal with whether you’ll need to pay is decided how extended you’ll be registered within your course for. In case you’re doing an undergraduate degree that lasts 3 years, you won’t need to spend with the summer time time time a few days between terms, when you take effect full-time with the summer time time time.

Are you aware students also don’t have to pay TV licence within the summer time time time? Learn how to obtain a refund!

In case you’re deferring your course before the pick up once you have already began, it’s unlikely the school will visit the effort of deregistering you so you’ve to join up once again once the next academic year begins. Therefore, you probably won’t need to pay council tax in this particular break period.

Basically, your exemption will get control every day your course starts as well as continue before the day your course ends, including holiday periods should you’re not studying.

The postgraduate situation

While you won’t need to pay tax with the summer time time time breaks between academic years, you will have to purchase the summer time time time a few days inside the finish in the final year – when you’re heading into postgraduate study once the academic year starts again. Because you will observe a market among that you simply won’t technically certainly be a student anymore when you formally start the next course.

Applications for the brand-new Postgraduate Loan for United kingdom Master’s levels are actually open! We’ve got everything you should know .

In case you’re a postgraduate student a little more hrs to complete writing your thesis within the summer time time time, regrettably you’ll have some trouble getting exemption as this is technically outdoors clearly time.

However, a powerful way to get round this is often to maneuver home for the summer time time time! If you’re in a position to convince the area council that you simply’re staying away from when uni is completed, they won’t hands back an invoice.

Hopefully we’ve could answer a couple of in the council tax-related questions by using this guide!

In case you’re still unsure if you want to pay for council tax, you can leave a remark below, make contact with us. or get hold of your local council directly.

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Council Tax – everything students need to know

Most students are exempt from Council Tax – but keep reading!!

Despite your possible exemption, it is important to know the facts about Council Tax, check whether you are really exempt and how you make sure your landlord and the Council know this and finally what to do if you receive a bill.

What is Council Tax?

Council Tax is collected by local councils to cover services such the local Police, road maintenance, rubbish collection, street lighting and care for the vulnerable and homeless.

Council Tax liability is assessed in March of each year with a new bill calculated, produced and sent out in April.

Is your property exempt?

Student accommodation is built for students only and is normally exempt as a whole dwelling.

If only students live there, it will therefore be highly unlikely that any students within the hall will receive a bill.

Privately owned houses or flats are not exempt as they are not purpose built.

Therefore an assessment as to whether anyone is liable for Council Tax will be carried out.

The first person deemed to be responsible under law for Council Tax is the owner of the property; however as landlords do not normally live with their tenants, it is usually the case the residents of a property is considered as responsible as default.

However if the property is only occupied by full time students, this will mean the property becomes exempt and therefore no tax to pay.

Are students exempt from Council Tax?

If your course lasts a year you are classed as a full time student and therefore exempt. The course must last for at least 24 weeks out of the year and involve at least 21 hours of study, tuition or work experience per week during term time.

How do you prove your exemption?

We advise you don’t assume you are exempt, but take steps to make sure the Council and your landlord are fully aware.

Firstly, you should obtain a Council Tax Exemption Certificate, this document is proof from your University that you are a full time student and that you are not liable for Council Tax. You should submit this to the local council (but do keep a copy).

Secondly, your landlord may ask you for this for their own records and to ensure that they will not be chased by the Council for payment after you have moved out.

You may also be asked for a copy of your certificate by the owners of the purpose built accommodation too, this is so that they can retain their exemption and prove student occupancy.

Your university might do their own check to ensure that they are not issuing a certificate to an individual that they feel is not exempt.

If you do not agree with their decision to not issue you an exemption certificate, ask them to explain the reason to you and if you disagree, take some advice from your Students’ Union to see if you can challenge this.

Students who might be liable

You might encounter a problem if you are required to sit out a year before proceeding to the next year of their course.

This can then bring the status of “enrolled but not attending” and your university may not issue the exemption certificate, you will then be liable for Council Tax.

There may be scope for a discount on the overall bill if you are the only liable person in the household and possibly help towards paying the Council Tax from the local council. Get advice if you are in this position.

If you are a PhD student reaching the ‘writing-up’ stage, you might not meet the definition of ‘full time student’ and also find yourself in the same situation.

Many Universities will only issue an exemption certificate for students who are writing up for the first six months and after this, students will need to pay Council Tax. Again, seek advice.

Individuals attracting liability to the property

You may find yourself living with a non-student, this will bring an end to the exemption of the property. (This is in a non-purpose built student accommodation).

This also might happen if someone lives at the property as a full time student but for some reason leaves University but remains living in the property.

The Council will issue a bill in both of these cases. This will go to the property but the only person responsible for the Council Tax is the non-student. The students within the property will remain exempt will not be liable.

If you are an international student who can bring their family to the UK, there is no liability as long as your spouse’s immigration conditions are that they cannot claim public funds or are unable to work. Proof of these immigration conditions should be given to the Council as well as the exemption certificate for the student.

Council Tax Enforcement and Prosecution

If you ignore the paperwork or cannot reach an agreement with the Council, they will continue to pursue you for this debt. They will not let the matter drop because for example they have not heard from you.

A liability order enforces the payment of Council Tax is enforced through the Magistrates court, it gives the Council formal recognition of the debt you owe and they are able to further pursue you for this payment with a range of enforcement methods.

Included within this is a prison sentence but this is very rarely used. Usually, bailiffs are instructed and can come to your property, enter with your permission and take your possessions to the value of the debt to be sold.

You do not have to let the bailiffs into your home and they should not force their way into your property unless you have let them in on a previous visit or you have broken the agreement you made.

If you receive a Council Tax bill, liability order paperwork or a bailiff letter or visit, get advice straight away.

In conclusion, Council Tax should be very simple – as long as you are a full time student, make sure you get the right paperwork and deliver it to the right people who need it, there should be no issues. For further information visit https://www.leicester.gov.uk/your-community/council-tax/

Take a look around and enjoy reading the discussions. If you'd like to join in, it's really easy to register and then you'll be able to post. If you'd like to learn what this place is all about, head here .

Council tax when studying for PhD

Working out if you?re a full-time student for Council Tax purposes You?ll usually be considered a full-time student for Council Tax purposes if: * you attend a university or college course lasting for at least one academic year - as long as you attend for at least 24 weeks out of the year and study for at least 21 hours per week during term time, or * you?re under 20 and your course leads to a qualification up to (but not above) A level standard or equivalent - as long as it lasts for more than three months and involves more than 12 hours of study per week But not all courses count towards ?full-time student? status. For example, it doesn?t usually apply to distance learning or evening classes. Also, you won?t be considered a full-time student if you?re doing a course related to your job - such as day release. You must also be studying at a ?prescribed place of education?. This will include established universities and most colleges. Ultimately, though, it?s up to your local council to decide - if there?s any doubt, check with them.

Meryn wrote: » Harrow specifically excludes research students from counting as students for council tax purposes, which was very boring.

Kermit wrote: » They can do this whilst you're writing up, but if you're studying then you're a full time student and exempt from council tax.

Kermit wrote: » However I understand that Harrow Council are currently being judicially reviewed about their council tax stance.

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How Council Tax works

Discounts for full-time students.

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 .

To count as a full-time student, your course must:

If you study for a qualification up to A level and you’re under 20, your course must:

You’ll get a Council Tax bill if there’s someone in your household who’s not a full-time student, but your household might still qualify for a discount .

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Council Tax Exemption for Part-time Postgrad Students

When I resumed my postgraduate studies as a part-time student, I suddenly became liable for a council tax bill of £1,203.14 per year. Here’s how I argued my case with the council.

Funded postgraduate students receive a tax-free stipend which covers living costs, and have their university fees paid by their funding body. Becoming ill or disabled during studies has a big financial impact, as not all funding bodies provide sick pay or extra financial support. On top of this, part-time postgraduates lose council tax exemption status.

The criteria for student council tax exemption are:

‘To count as a full-time student, your course must’:

Source: https://www.gov.uk/council-tax/discounts-for-full-time-students

A part-time postgraduate student studying for 21 hours per week would not receive the council tax exemption that an undergraduate studying the same hours would. The flaw in this scheme is that exemption is decided based on the tuition fees being paid; part-time students are paying reduced fees and so are not exempt. This black and white cutoff does not however take into account the difference to postgraduates whose fees are paid by their funding body, and who are unable to study full-time due to illness or disability. There is a discount for disabled people, but only if you need a whole extra room because of your disability, or space for a wheelchair.

Example of impact:

A full-time funded PhD student receives a tax-free stipend of £15,009 per year (19/20) and their university fees are paid by their funding body. They are exempt from paying council tax.

A part-time PhD student receives £7504.50 per year, their fees are paid by the funder but they are now liable to pay council tax.

The burden is even greater if a student in a shared student property becomes disabled part way through their tenancy. The maximum discount on council tax as the only non-full-time student in a household is 25%. This leaves a newly disabled postgraduate liable for 75% of the council tax on their whole student house which could cost thousands of pounds. The exception is in HMOs, where council tax is the landlord’s responsibility.

This means alongside all other problems to cope with being newly ill or disabled, there is the problem of a precarious housing situation. The options seem to be either pay the tax, or move somewhere more affordable (i.e. move in with council tax-paying professionals or into student halls where council tax is not charged).

When I resumed my studies as a part-time student, I was living in a 2 bed flat with another student. My council tax bill was suddenly £1,203.14 per year. Here’s how I appealed it.

Firstly, I tried for exemption on the basis that I was studying for 21 hours per week- the minimum course load for undergraduates to be considered full-time students. I confirmed with my supervisors and Graduate School in writing that I would be working 21 hours per week, then wrote to the council to ask for exemption. I was denied because my official course status was part-time, not full-time.

For my second, successful attempt, I collated 3 different doctors’ letters stating my disability (I just used clinic summaries that had been posted to me) and got a signed and stamped letter from my Graduate School stating that I would be working 21 hours per week . I attached these to an email where I explained that I was studying part-time because I was disabled, and that I did not have income from a part-time job.

Fortunately this was enough to secure a council tax exemption. My next step would have been contacting my local councillor and MP.

Postgraduates who have to study part-time due to illness or disability should not have to pay council tax, and the guidance on council websites should reflect this. In the meantime, it is worth remembering that appealing directly to your local council to inform them of your specific circumstances can secure an exemption. The official rules and wording do vary from council to council.

Shelter Housing Charity (free housing advice in England): https://england.shelter.org.uk /

Citizens advice UK: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/housing/renting-a-home/student-housing/students-in-private-rented-accommodation/student-housing-council-tax/

UK government information on student council tax discounts: https://www.gov.uk/council-tax/discounts-for-full-time-students

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Council tax exemption.

Council tax is charged by local authorities on homes in their area to pay for local public services.

Zoom in of someone writing on a piece of paper

Other groups of people who are disregarded are listed on the gov.uk website

Who counts as a full-time student?

The council tax rules say that you will count as a full-time student if:

Student Halls of Residence are exempt dwellings so you are automatically not required to pay council tax.

If you live in privately rented accommodation and all of the occupants are full-time students you will not need to pay council tax but will need to apply for your exemption.

We have examples of how other individual circumstances will affect council tax liability in the sections below.

How to claim council tax exemption

If you live in certain London boroughs, Queen Mary reports to the relevant council the names of all students who are eligible for council tax exemption. However, you must also complete a student disregard form on the relevant council’s website. Please refer to the Queen Mary ARCS website for details of which boroughs are included and for links to the student disregard forms.

If you live in a borough that Queen Mary does not report to, you will need to provide the Council with proof you are a full-time student. To evidence your student status you can download your  Student Status Letter  from your Gradintelligence account. You will need to provide a new letter at the start of each academic year. You may also need to complete forms for your Local Authority – please check the relevant authority’s website .

If you change address within an academic year, update your address in MySIS straight away. Complete the relevant exemption forms for the borough you move to.

You can only claim Council tax exemption as a full-time student from the official start date of your course, once you have enrolled. If your course is longer than one year you will be exempt from paying Council tax during the summer vacation(s) between academic years.

I live with non-students, or part-time students

If you live with non-students, or part-time students, there will usually be a council tax bill for your dwelling. However, as a full-time student who is disregarded for council tax you will  not  be jointly liable for paying the bill with other residents of the same status or legal interest in the dwelling as you, for example joint tenants or joint residents. The non-student residents will be legally responsible for paying the council tax. 

However, if you have a higher status or legal interest in the dwelling to the non-student resident(s), for example, if you own the dwelling and a non-student is lodging with you, you will be liable for the council tax. This is sometimes known as the hierarchy of liability. For more information about who is liable for council tax see the Citizens Advice Bureau  council tax guidance.

If you live with just one other adult who is not a full-time student, they will count as the only resident in the dwelling. This means they will usually be able to apply for a 25% single occupant discount on their council tax bill. If you live with two or more adults who are not full-time students, there will usually be a full council tax bill for the dwelling.

I am interrupting or re-sitting out of attendance

If you are interrupting or resitting out of attendance, provided you are registered on a full-time programme of study, the council tax legislation states you continue to remain exempt from paying council tax, unless you are in the final year of your programme.

Despite this, some local authorities may still state you are liable to pay. If this happens see the later section Appealing a council tax charge.

If you have completed attendance on the taught part of your programme and you are only resitting out of attendance to complete the final assessments such as final exams or coursework, some local authorities will consider that you are no longer eligible for the student exemption and you will have to pay council tax.

You may be able to claim Council Tax Reduction.

I’m a PhD student writing up

If you are writing up, to claim your Council tax exemption, you need to provide a letter from your supervisor that confirms that you are still a full-time student.

There is no requirement that you are paying full-time tuition fees. If you meet all of the requirements in the sample letter below, you should qualify for Council tax exemption. Your supervisor or Head of School will need to decide whether these requirements are being met, and if so, they will need to provide a letter for you to send to your local authority council tax office. You could show your supervisor the example letter below for guidance. In addition to the suggested wording below, it would also be useful if the supervisor’s letter includes information about any attendance which is required at the university, for example for discussion, supervision, assessments, etc.

I am the supervisor of _________________, who is currently studying for a PhD in the School of ____________________ at Queen Mary, University of London. She/he began this programme on ________________ and is expected to complete it by __________.

Although __________________ is no longer paying full-time fees, I can confirm that she/he continues to be a full time student as her/his current programme of study lasts at least one academic year of more than 24 weeks and involves more than 21 hours of study per week. Writing up can be undertaken within the School, or in a library, or at the student’s home, but they are in contact with me for supervision purposes.

If your local authority refuses your council tax exemption please read the section of this page ‘ Appealing a council tax charge ’ [please hyperlink to section called Appealing a council tax charge]

Note that if you are claiming welfare benefits on the basis of being a part-time student while writing up, you cannot then claim council tax exemption but you may be able to claim Council Tax Reduction

I am a part-time student

If your course is designated a part-time course, you are not eligible for the student council tax exemption. You can check if you are eligible for Council Tax Reduction.

If you or someone you live with has a disability you may be able to apply for a council tax discount. The gov.uk website has information about this.

I’m a final year student with August exams

If you have to sit final year exams in August, Queen Mary cannot change your official course end date. This will remain on MySIS as the last date of term in June. The Student Enquiry Centre can normally give you a letter which will include your original course end date but with a sentence explaining that you also have exams to sit in August. You could take this letter to the Council and ask whether they will extend your Council tax exemption to the end of your August exams, but this may not necessarily be successful.

I am an international student living with my spouse or civil partner

If the only non-student adult you share your dwelling with is your spouse or civil partner, who is not a British citizen and who currently has limited permission to stay in the UK, e.g. as your dependant, and the wording of their immigration permission states that they have no recourse to public funds  or  that employment is prohibited, then your dwelling should be exempt.

To apply for council tax exemption you need to send your local authority council tax office a copy of your partner’s immigration permission as well as proving your own student status [link to how to claim council tax exemption section]

UKCISA has further information about this.

Claiming council tax exemption does not count as claiming a public fund. If a condition of your immigration permission is that you have ‘no recourse to public funds’ you can still claim council tax exemption without breaching the conditions of your immigration permission in the UK.

Council Tax Reduction

If you are a student who is liable for council tax, you may be able to claim Council Tax Reduction which is for people on low incomes to help them pay their council tax. There is information about this on the Citizens Advice Bureau website. If you live with your parents and they claim Council Tax Reduction, this should not be reduced due to you living there because no deduction should be made in respect of a resident who is a full-time student.

Appealing a Council Tax charge

If you have been charged for council tax and you believe you are exempt, contact your local council tax office immediately. Find out why they think you are liable to pay. They may be missing the information they need to evidence your full-time student status, so find out what the issue is and how it can be resolved.

If you live in one of the boroughs that Queen Mary reports council tax exemption to, check with the Student Enquiry Centre that this has been reported. Also check that the form you need to submit to the council has been received. If you live in a borough that Queen Mary does not report for, have you provided the information required to prove your full-time student status? [please link to How to claim council tax exemption section above]

Ensure you quickly update any change to your address in MySIS.

If you have followed these steps and the council have all the required information but are still charging you council tax, contact a Welfare Adviser  at Queen Mary straightaway for advice. 

Citizens Advice also has information about  appealing a council tax decision.

What happens if I receive a council tax bill and don't pay it?

Sanctions for non-payment of council tax can be extremely serious including imprisonment. Therefore it is essential that you respond immediately to any demands for payment. Contact a Welfare Adviser  at Queen Mary straightaway for advice. 

The gov.uk website explains what happens if council tax is not paid.

How to fund your studies

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PhD money whilst writing up

Cardelia wrote: » Just to give you an idea, when I finished my experimental work, I had enough overdraft left to enable me to write full-time for 1 month before I had to get a temp job. In that time I wrote almost half my thesis. I submitted my final version before people who had had a year's head start on me, but they messed around and didn't have the motivation to write, so it took them ages. It doesn't really matter if you have to get a job as long as you have the personal motivation to finish quickly.

Voyager2002 wrote: » Cardelia, no need to be so judgemental about people who take longer than you do to write up their work. The process of writing up a thesis in experimental science can often require little or no thought. In other disciplines (mine for example) the writing-up phase was far and away the most intellectually demanding part of the whole degree, and required engaging with a new body of literature and re-thinking the significance of everything that I had done up to that point in the light of the new ideas.

masterkay wrote: » To me a true PhD is finding a topic, obtaining an excellent knowledge of that specific area that you are interested in or is worthy of your time, finding a project within that (something novel), doing that quite often revising your original thoughts, performing some rigorous research to prove/disprove it and moving the field on and obviously writing it up. To say that can be done in 3 years and say it's lack of motivation or attitude that causes it to take longer is just not accurate (though in instances it may be true). You don't know how long things will take before you start.