Exemptstudents don't pay it — if they claim it

Student council tax exemption in Sheffield

A house in Sheffield lived in only by full-time students pays no council tax. At Sheffield City Council's Band D charge of £2,505 a year, that exemption is worth about £209 a month — but only if you actually claim it.

£2,505Band D council tax in Sheffield — what the exemption is worth for a year

What Sheffield City Council requires

All-student householdFully exempt
How to claimApply online — households where everyone is a full-time student should claim the exemption rather than a discount.
Evidence they wantNot specified on the council's student discount page.
Band D charge, 2026/27£2,505

Sheffield spells out the full-time test: at least 24 study weeks a year averaging 21 hours a week. Correspondence courses, evening classes, job-related courses and gap years do not count. Under-20s on a course of 12+ hours a week also qualify.

If not everyone in the house is a full-time student

Part-time students do not qualify, and two or more non-qualifying residents means no reduction at all.

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Student cities with a similar bill

The councils nearest Sheffield City Council on the Band D charge — what the exemption is worth where you might have gone instead. The full table has every one.

CityCouncilBand D
LancasterLancaster City Council£2,461
CambridgeCambridge City Council£2,467
DurhamDurham County Council£2,500
GuildfordGuildford Borough Council£2,501
NorwichNorwich City Council£2,503
SheffieldSheffield City Council£2,505
CoventryCoventry City Council£2,516
LeicesterLeicester City Council£2,529
WolverhamptonCity of Wolverhampton Council£2,539
Newcastle upon TyneNewcastle City Council£2,541
BangorCyngor Gwynedd£2,555

Questions

Do students pay council tax in Sheffield?

No, not if every adult in the property is a full-time student — the household is exempt. The exemption has to be claimed; it does not apply itself just because you are a student.

How do I claim the student exemption with Sheffield City Council?

Apply online — households where everyone is a full-time student should claim the exemption rather than a discount.

What proof do I need?

Not specified on the council's student discount page.

What if one housemate isn't a full-time student?

Part-time students do not qualify, and two or more non-qualifying residents means no reduction at all.

Other councils

Checked 18 August 2026 against sheffield.gov.uk. Councils change their forms and evidence rules; the council's own page is the authority when you claim.

Processes checked 19 August 2026 against each council's own pages. This is information, not advice, and the council's page is the authority when you claim.