Income Tax for students

If you are a student away from home your tax records will normally be held in the tax office which dealt with the last place you worked.

If you haven't worked before or haven't had any taxable income there won't be any records.

You can phone your local tax office (the number is in the phone book or Yellow pages under HM Revenue and Customs or Government Offices or you can find it by searching on the HMRC website) and they will advise you what to do. You will need your National Insurance number - if you haven’t got one you can find out how to get one >>

Your tax position as a student is that any grant is non-taxable. In general so are any scholarships, bursaries, research awards and housing benefit you might get or you might be sponsored by your employer up to a limit. In other words you can get any or all of these and still keep your full tax allowances.

Normally tax is deducted as you earn. In some cases it may be possible to fill out a form P38(S) which will exempt you from paying tax on your wages during the current tax year. However this will apply only if you work in the holidays and not at all during term time. Ask your employer for the form if this applies to you. More about the P38(S) can be found on the LITRG website >>