Do I need to pay Student Tax for the 20 days between Courses?

Fila_2

I am currently a student and I understand I am exempted from the council tax. Recently, I got a letter asking me to pay for council taxes. Am I liable for council tax between courses? I finished my postgraduate course approximately on 10/09/2007 and did not officially start a new course until 01/10/2007. Would I need to pay for the 20 days in between courses?

Murdina

have you checked with your educational institution when the courses officially finish? I've been a student for a few years recently and the "finishing date" was quite late in the year. Also you get a certificate from your institution - does that give the end date for the exemption?

CIS

In between course end and start dates you are not a student andtherefore liable for council tax - some councils at their discretion will allow your exemption to continue as it is easier than chasing for 20 days worth of council tax

Fila_2

Murdina wrote: »

have you checked with your educational institution when the courses officially finish? I've been a student for a few years recently and the "finishing date" was quite late in the year. Also you get a certificate from your institution - does that give the end date for the exemption?

For a Postgraduate course, there is no official date to finish. I just approximate the date I did my dissertation presentation where I got my marks as the final date of my studies. So I am guessing there are a few weeks in between the course that I finish the the start of the new course.

Fila_2

CIS wrote: »

In between course end and start dates you are not a student andtherefore liable for council tax - some councils at their discretion will allow your exemption to continue as it is easier than chasing for 20 days worth of council tax

I found 1 other thread on this forum and that's what people responded also. Council tax need to alter the rules slightly because they need to allow students at least a few days to settle down before they start a new course. Especially for International students, it is unreasonable to expect them to come into a new country and be expected to come only on the same day of the new school year and move into a house in order to avoid being charged council taxes. I'll talk to the school and see what they say. I hope the council tax won't be too strict on this but you never know...