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Council Tax exemption

Full-time taught students, full-time postgraduate researchers and some part-time postgraduate researchers are eligible for Council Tax exemption or discounts. The amount you’ll pay depends on: 

  • your student tax status
  • your course duration
  • the number of hours you study per week.

You can check your eligibility on the gov.uk website. 

Degree apprentices are not eligible for Council Tax exemption. 

Find out more about council tax exemption on the Leeds City Council website.

Contact Student Advice in Leeds University Union if you’re struggling to pay your Council Tax bill. Don’t ignore a Council Tax letter. There could be legal consequences. 

How Council Tax exemption applies if you’re a taught student 

We send a list of full-time, registered students to Leeds City Council each year at the end of October and February. 

You should be on the council’s database, providing you: 

You can check the address you have registered on Minerva:  

  • Select the ‘Access to Student Services’ icon in the toolbar
  • Once logged in, select ‘Personal information’ 

If you live outside Leeds, you’ll need to check your eligibility. You can apply for a Registration Status Certificate for Council Tax exemption purposes.

How Council Tax exemption applies if you’re a postgraduate researcher 

We send the details of registered, full-time (and eligible part-time) postgraduate researchers to Leeds City Council at the end of: 

  • October
  • January
  • April
  • July

You should be on the council’s database, providing you: 

You can check the address you have registered on Minerva:  

  • Select the ‘Access to Student Services’ icon in the toolbar
  • Once logged in, select ‘Personal information.’ 

If you live outside Leeds, you’ll need to check your eligibility. You can apply for a Registration Status Certificate for Council Tax exemption purposes.

Postgraduate researchers who are exempt from council tax

  • If you are a postgraduate researcher on a full-time or part-time 0.75 programme and have not submitted your thesis.
  • If you are a postgraduate researcher in your overtime period and are enrolled on a full-time or 0.75 programme. 

Postgraduate researchers who have to pay council tax

  • If you are enrolled on a part-time 0.5 or 0.6 programme
  • If you have submitted your thesis for examination
  • If you are currently in the referral period. Please note that during this time, you will only be able to use the library and IT facilities to revise the thesis for resubmission. During this stage, postgraduate researchers are not classed as full-time, part-time or overtime students.

You can get further advice from Student Advice in Leeds University Union.

What to do if the council asks you to pay 

If the council asks for payment, ask them to check your details on our list (or database). If they haven’t received the list, tell them it’s on the way. They should be aware of our procedure. 

If they can't find your details after the date which we have sent the list of registered students, you can apply for a Registration Status Certificate to prove you're exempt. Please select the option for council tax exemption. 

You might also need a Registration Status Certificate to prove you’re tax-exempt if:  

  • Your term time address is outside of Leeds 
  • Your parent or carer wants to apply for a single-person discount.

Remember, if you are a postgraduate researcher, you will need to pay if you have already submitted your thesis.

How Council Tax exemption applies if you’re an international student

You must meet the Council Tax definition for a ‘student’ to qualify for Council Tax exemption. Visit UKCISA to learn more.

Your eligibility for Council Tax discount will be determined by your student status, course duration and number of study hours per week. Find out more at Leeds City Council: Council Tax.

What to do if your circumstances change

You must inform the council if your full-time student status or living arrangements change. 

If you're a full-time taught student, you don’t have to pay Council Tax—even if you're on a temporary break from your studies, as long as you're planning to return. 

Postgraduate researchers (PGRs) who are studying full-time or on a 0.75 part-time programme are also exempt from Council Tax during a suspension, provided they intend to come back to their studies

If you leave permanently before your course ends and are no longer a student, you are no longer eligible for Council Tax discount.

If you leave to transfer to another institution, you must apply again with your new details.

Where to get support

Contact Student Advice in Leeds University Union for help and advice.

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