Tax Exemption?

wiggywoo9

Hi

Just moved into my first flat, its housing association and its just me and my 1 year old living here. Got my first letter about council tax today- I'm band A if that helps. I have an exemption form from my university as I'm study full-time, but not sure what to do?

Do I have to pay anything? Do I just call up to explain and show them the form?

My form says it valid until 15th July, which is when I graduate (yippee!) so then I'd apply for single person discount?

Just some clarification please- thank you!

jennifernil

Yes, you should hand in the form your Uni gave you. Then you will pay nothing until the date your exemption runs out.

agrinnall

Take a look at the Council Tax pages on your council's website, there will probably be a form you can download to claim your exemption, such as the Occupied Property Exemption form for my council here.

Note that you also need to send in the form from your university as proof.

talkinpeace

NB - from 1st April 2013 a lot of the exemptions and allowances are being altered
the Government has changed the basisof council tax calculation so every district is doing its own thing - check with YOUR council.

jennifernil

I think the rules for students are the same everywhere, and are not being changed.

talkinpeace

yes they are - every district can implement its own rules - Localism

agrinnall

talkinpeace wrote: »

yes they are - every district can implement its own rules - Localism

I think you may be wrong, this is an example of how the Localism Act affects council tax exemptions and discounts, and there is no mention of removal of the student exemption http://www.rbkc.gov.uk/councilanddemocracy/counciltax.aspx:

Important Changes affecting Council Tax Exemptions and Discounts

Council tax is administered under central government regulations. With the introduction of the Localism Act, new powers have been delegated to local authorities. In addition, The Local Government Finance 2012 changes legislation to some exemptions and discretionary discounts. This will come into effect from 1 April 2013. The main areas of change are:

• Abolish the exemption that is currently available for up to 12 months in respect of an empty property which requires or is undergoing major structural repair or alteration to render it habitable (Class A).
• Abolish the exemption that is currently available for up to 6 months after a dwelling becomes unoccupied and unfurnished (Class C).
• Remove the discount for second homes which is currently 10%. These properties will in future pay full council tax.
• Remove the discount for all long-term empty properties which is currently 10%. These properties will in future pay full council tax.

Other discounts and exemptions are not affected by these changes.

jennifernil

talkinpeace wrote: »

yes they are - every district can implement its own rules - Localism

I think if students were going to be hit with CT it would have been headline news by now!!

CIS

NB - from 1st April 2013 a lot of the exemptions and allowances are being altered

Class N exemptions and student disregards are not being altered , they will remain on a national basis.

The only council tax exemptions and discounts being changed are those that refer to unoccupied properties - Class A and Class A, furnished & unfurnished discounts etc.

Council Tax Benefit is being changed to Council Tax Support which will vary on a local level but wont affect full time students.

talkinpeace

shame really - they pay no council tax, yet the cost of clearing up student ghettoes is a huge burden on the people who do

John_Pierpoint

agrinnall wrote: »

• Remove the discount for all long-term empty properties which is currently 10%. These properties will in future pay full council tax.

Other discounts and exemptions are not affected by these changes.

As already discussed on here, my local council is proposing to slap a surcharge on long term empty properties - presumably to raise more revenue as well as concentrate minds.

A bit debatable if the hold up is some sort of long term planning wrangle or the site is blighted by a long term development intention expressed when the council has no visible source of capital to undertake its wishes.

[I bought a house at a blighted price, where council development was expected "in 18 months time". In reality it turned out to be 20 years, after the IMF took over the government of the UK - OK Greeks, we have been through your pain nearly 30 years ago.].