Do I need to pay taxes if I work during my studies?

Income Tax is a tax you pay on your income. You don't have to pay tax on all types of income.

To find out if, and what you will have to pay in Income Tax, please refer to the official guidance for the UK at UK Gov: Income Tax.

If you need guidance through this information and how it will affect you, Money & Housing Advice can support you. 

It might be difficult to keep track of your income due to income variations. If you have accidentally paid more or did not use your Personal Allowance, you might be able to claim a tax refund by completing this form.

Use the Inland Revenue Tax Checker to work out how much tax you should be paying on your wages.

Important to know: There is no difference between working during term-time or holidays in terms of taxation. If you are working only in the holidays and your estimated earning is less than the Personal Allowance, you will need to complete a tax return claim as above.

If you work for a UK employer, you might have to pay UK tax on anything above your Personal Allowance and National Insurance (NI). However, if you work for a foreign employer, you don’t need to pay NI in the UK, but you might have to pay tax contributions in the country you’re working in.

There are some double-taxation agreements, which could mean you might not need to pay UK tax on your income if you work while you’re a student. However, if your country does not have this type of agreement, you will have to pay tax as of the above.

If you're studying on a visa, please read I’m on Student visa, can I work while I’m studying?

Our colleagues at Blackbullion have developed a comprehensive online learning module on Taxes which will broader your understanding in just 21mins!

If you have not yet signed up for Blackbullion’s free financial learning tools you can do so with your King’s email address.

We also recommend reading this guide on tax, covering taxes when you're student and then when graduate and start working: Tax Guides: Students

You may also find these resources helpful:

• Tax Guide for Students
• 7 basic tax facts every student needs to know
• Claim a tax refund if you stop working during the year
• Money Saving Expert – Tax Rates | Breakdown what the tax authorities get
• Gov.uk – Student Jobs: Paying Tax

If you're thinking about money and how to manage it better, check out the Financial Wellbeing video series which you may find very helpful, which includes topics on where your money goes, how to budget and funding studies on health/clinical courses.