Council Tax

Council Tax exemption for full time students
You must be a full time student studying for at least one full academic year, involving at least 21
hours of study per week.

Households where everyone is a full time student don’t have to pay Council Tax. If you get a bill, you can apply for an exemption.

If you live in a Halls of Residence you don’t need to apply as an exemption is already in place.

If you live with one other adult who is not a student, we will reduce your bill by 25%.

If you live at home with two or more adults who pay full Council Tax, you are not eligible to apply.

If you are a part time student, you are not eligible for council exemption.

Where can I find a Council Tax Exemption Form?

Council Tax Exemption Forms can be found on your Student Records Management, once you sign in to My Hope.

Once completed you will need to go to the Gateway Service Desk for the form to be stamped.

When does my exemption start and end?

Council tax exemption is from the first day of the course until the official end date of the course, not your graduation date. This includes holiday periods until the final year of the course. Please note if you have outstanding assessment in your final year your council tax exemption expires on the official end date of the course. It does not include the reassessment period and you will be liable for Council Tax.

Am I eligible for council tax exemption if I am taking interruption from my course?

As a full time student, you might need to take some time out from your course, for example,
because of an illness or family commitments.

If you suspend your course but remain registered because you intend to come back, you are still
regarded as a student for the purposes of council tax.

If you are a full time student completing an assessed placement year, you are still eligible for council tax exemption.

What if I am between courses?

Undergraduate students who then undertake a postgraduate course are not classed as a student
between courses (the summer period between one course ending and the other starting).

Council tax exemption for apprentices

Local councils do not count apprentices when looking at the number of people living in a property for Council Tax purposes. This means they will reduce your Council Tax by 25% if one other adult lives in the household (excluding you).

To be eligible for this discount you will need a declaration from your employer stating that:

• you won’t be paid more than £195 per week; and
• the training leads to a qualification accredited by a body recognised by the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) or the Scottish Vocational Education Council (SVEC).

You can apply online for this exemption on the Liverpool City Council website.

Where can I find further information?

For further information on council tax please see the Liverpool city council pages.