Some students are exempt from paying Council Tax. Use this guide to check if you qualify, how to get your exemption evidence, and what to do if your situation changes.
🎓 Am I exempt from paying Council Tax?
You may be exempt from paying Council Tax if:
- You are studying full-time on a course lasting at least 6 months.
- You are a part-time student studying over 90 credits in an academic year (subject to review by the admin team).
- Council Tax is charged to properties, not individuals — your household setup affects whether you get a full exemption or a discount.
| Household | Exemption Status |
| You live with other students who are also exempt. | Your household will be fully exempt whilst everyone is studying. Each student must provide their own exemption evidence to the council. |
| You live with non-students (e.g. parents, working adults) |
You may qualify for a discount or partial exemption. Contact your local council to check.
|
🧾 How to get your Council Tax exemption evidence
| Student Type | Where to access your evidence |
| Consortium college student. | Request your exemption from your college. |
| Current HIC student. | Request your exemption from HIC. |
|
Doctoral College / Part-Time / Online / Distance Learning student living in the UK |
Contact the Ask Herts team using the button at the bottom of the page. Include:
|
| Full-time University of Hertfordshire student. | Follow the steps below |
1. Register
You must be a fully registered student to request exemption.
New students: complete your course registration
Returning students: re-enrol for the new academic year
2. Request your evidence
- Request your exemption evidence through the Student Letters Portal (updated for 2025/26).
- Your evidence will be emailed to you (allow up to 20 minutes).
If you can’t access the portal, email: CouncilTaxQueries@herts.ac.uk with your name, student ID, and address.
📌 Accessing Your Evidence
You can only access your evidence during the dates shown in your Student Record for your current year of study.
If you need evidence outside those dates, we can manually produce it for you at any time.
3. Receive your exemption certificate
You’ll receive a link to download your certificate via the personal email address listed on your Student Record.
4. Send your evidence to your council.
Submit your certificate through your local council’s website or email (check their submission instructions).
👉Not sure which council you fall under? Use this checker.
❓Common Questions
You can find answers here to some common Council Tax related questions.
- What is a Council Tax Exemption Notice?
It’s confirmation of the period you’re not required to pay Council Tax. Keep it for your records. - Do I need to apply every year?
Yes, most councils require you to renew your exemption annually. Check with your council each year. - I’ve withdrawn or finished my course — what now?
Once you stop studying, you’re no longer eligible for exemption. Contact your council immediately.
If you start at another institution, request a new certificate from them. - I’m transferring to a new course.
Request a new exemption certificate. If there’s a gap between courses, you may need to pay Council Tax for that period. - I’m on a placement year
If your placement is part of an eligible full-time course, you remain exempt. - I’ve finished my course but haven’t graduated yet
You’re only exempt while you’re an active student — you’ll need to start paying Council Tax once your course ends. - I’ve received a letter from the council
Check what dates the letter covers. If you were not registered as a student during that time, you may need to pay. If you were, send the council your exemption certificate.
📨 Need Help?
If you still have questions, contact Ask Herts or email CouncilTaxQueries@herts.ac.uk.
Make sure to include:
- Your full name
- Student ID
- Type of student (e.g. full-time, part-time, doctoral, etc.)
- Full postal address for exemption evidence