Do I need to pay council tax and how do I apply for an exemption?

If you are a full-time student who lives on your own, or with other students, you are not expected to pay council tax. However, you will still need to provide proof of your student status to your local authority if you are in private accommodation. You can visit our council tax page to see if you are eligible for a council tax exemption.

If you are eligible for the exemption, you use our Surrey Support 'University Letters' page to generate a "Confirmation of Registration" letter confirming that you are a student. This letter will confirm your start date, your expected end date and the name of the course you are studying. This can then be used to apply for the council tax exemption on the Guildford Borough Council website (or your own local authority’s website).

If you are a part-time student who receives less than 21 hours of teaching per week (this would include part-time postgraduate research (PGR) students), you will not be eligible for the student council tax exemption. However, you may qualify for a council tax reduction, which could cover all or some of your council tax liability if you have a low income. You will need to liaise directly with your local authority to see if you can apply for a reduction. More details are available on the Guildford Borough Council website (or your own local authority’s website).

If you are still unsure, you can visit our council tax page to see if you are eligible for a council tax exemption.