Paying council tax as a student

If you are a registered full-time student you are not liable for council tax. If everyone in your house is also a full-time student the property will be exempt.

As part of a data sharing arrangement the University will pass your details on to the following councils:

• Liverpool
• Wirral
• Sefton
• St Helens
• Cheshire West
• Halton

If you live in one of these council areas and receive a council tax bill, you and any other full-time students must contact the council to inform them you are full-time students at Liverpool John Moores University. The council will then check your details against the lists we provide.

If you do not live in one of the council areas you can get a council tax exemption certificate by logging onto the My LJMU Portal (opens in a new tab) and then My Services and request the certificate online.

In some cases, even students that live in one of the following areas may need a certificate:

• Liverpool
• Wirral
• Sefton
• St Helens
• Cheshire West
• Halton

This is likely to be if you have a household made up of adults where some may be exempt and others are not. This makes it easier for the council to calculate any benefits or disregards that apply. For example, if you live with your parents who claim Council Tax Benefit. In these cases you can get a council tax exemption certificate by logging onto the My LJMU Portal (opens in a new tab) and then My Services and request the certificate online.

Yes. You can only be disregarded for council tax from the start date of your course.

If you live in one of the authorities above you will not normally need a certificate.

However, if you should receive a bill you should contact the authority concerned and ask them to check your details on the information Liverpool John Moores University has issued them with. If they should still need a certificate you can get a council tax exemption certificate by logging onto the My LJMU Portal (opens in a new tab) and then My Services and request the certificate online.

The details on the exemption certificate include your current term time address that the University holds on your student record. You should therefore ensure that the University is kept up-to-date with your contact details.

Exemption certificates can only be provided for students who are full time and have a student record on the University student record system. Exemption certificates will only be provided for previous addresses if you have evidence of living there, such as a tenancy agreement.

The property will be treated as if one person is in occupancy and will receive a single person's discount of 25% from the total charge. Legally the liability to pay is on the non-student. However, you may wish to discuss this as a household.

This will depend on your personal circumstances. As a general rule you are still deemed to be a student during your leave of absence, but please get in touch with a student advisor for more advice.

If you withdraw or abandon your programme of study you will have to pay from the date you finished your studies.

No, providing your placement is an assessed part of your undergraduate programme you are still considered to be a full-time student and exempt from council tax charges.