Council Tax Student Exemption and Reduction in Wakefield

Full Student Households — Class N Exemption

If every resident in your Wakefield property is a qualifying full-time student, the property is exempt from council tax entirely under Class N. You pay nothing.

A qualifying full-time student is enrolled on a course lasting at least one year that requires at least 21 hours of study per week. If you are under 20 and studying for a qualification up to A level, the course must last at least three months and require at least 12 hours of study per week. Part-time students who do not meet the applicable requirements do not qualify.

You'll need a council tax exemption certificate from your university or college — the institution issues these on request, usually through their student services department. Submit the certificate to Wakefield Council to get the exemption applied to your bill.

Mixed Households — Student Disregard

When a student lives with a non-student, the property loses the full exemption. But the student is "disregarded" for council tax purposes. If only one non-student adult remains after disregarding all students, the household qualifies for a 25% single person discount.

If two or more non-student adults live in the property, no discount applies from the student's presence — the full bill is charged to the liable persons.

This matters for Wakefield's Council Tax Support: liable non-student residents can still claim CTS through the working-age scheme. The student's presence does not affect their CTS eligibility. A student's own CTS entitlement depends on their circumstances, so check with Wakefield Council.

Care Leavers Under 25

Wakefield Council provides a 100% council tax discount for care leavers living in the district up to their 25th birthday. This is a local discretionary discount under Section 13A(1)(c) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, meaning it's a Wakefield-specific policy, not a national rule.

If you're a former looked-after child who has left the care system and you're now liable for council tax in Wakefield, contact the Revenues and Benefits team. This discount reduces your liability to zero regardless of your income or employment status.

Other Exemptions That Apply in Wakefield

Beyond student and care leaver discounts, Wakefield applies the standard statutory exemptions:

• Severely mentally impaired (SMI) — a person with a permanent cognitive impairment certified by a doctor and entitled to a qualifying benefit is disregarded for council tax. If they're the sole resident, the property may be fully exempt (Class U). If they live with one non-exempt person, a 25% single person discount applies.
• Live-in carers who provide at least 35 hours of care per week for someone entitled to a qualifying benefit may be disregarded if they live with the person cared for, are not their spouse or partner, and are not a parent caring for a child under 18.
• Members of visiting armed forces and certain diplomatic agents are disregarded.

Each exemption has its own evidence requirements. Wakefield Council's Council Tax and Benefits Service handles applications on 0345 8 504 504.

When an Exemption Ends

If your student status changes — you graduate, drop below the required study hours, or take a leave of absence — the exemption stops and you become liable for council tax from that date. Notify Wakefield Council promptly. If your household still has low income, you may qualify for Council Tax Support under the working-age scheme: up to 70% of your bill covered, provided your capital is £6,000 or less.

For a complete walkthrough of applying for CTS and the Wakefield income bands, the Wakefield Council Tax Reduction guide covers the full process.

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