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Tax careers – your future?
Find out about exciting career opportunities in the world of tax and how to get started.

Tax for student money advisers
How you can help students with tax issues: guidance and training materials for advisers.

  • Tax essentials
  • Working
  • Volunteering and training
  • Tax credits and benefits
  • Tax refunds
  • Types of student
  • Going abroad
  • Other income
  • Student loans

Introduction to the tax system

We provide a brief explanation of what tax is and who HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) are.

What is tax?

Who collects tax?

What is 'Your Charter'?

Where can I find more information?

What is tax?

Tax is a ‘financial charge’ or deduction from something you get or own or an additional cost added to something you buy. It is not a penalty or fine for doing something wrong. Normally governments collect taxes so that there is a pot of money to spend on things that benefit society as a whole. This might be law enforcement, including the police and courts, infrastructure, like roads and pathways, and administration.

The UK government also uses tax to fund various public services, including healthcare and welfare benefits.

The UK has many taxes. Some are known as ‘direct’ taxes because they are usually obvious amounts such as income tax which you can see being taken from your pay or have to pay direct to HMRC. Other direct taxes include corporation tax, capital gains tax and inheritance tax.

There are also ‘indirect’ taxes. The most well-known example of an indirect tax is value added tax (VAT). This is less obvious than a direct tax as it is included in the price of things that you buy.

National Insurance is not strictly a tax. It was originally a contributions-based system of insurance for support from the government in times of need such as ill-health, disability or retirement, paid by workers and employers. The link between individual contributions and benefits has gradually weakened, but the number of years for which you make National Insurance contributions still affects some welfare benefits, including your entitlement to the state pension.

Who collects tax?

HMRC are the UK tax authority. They are responsible for collecting and managing most UK taxes. They also interact with other government organisations – for example, they collect most student loan repayments. These are not a tax, they are repayments towards money that students have borrowed in the past; but as they are calculated as a deduction from income, the tax system is a convenient way to collect them.

HMRC also collect and manage Scottish income tax on behalf of the Scottish Government, but Revenue Scotland collect and manage other devolved taxes in Scotland.

HMRC also collect and manage Welsh rates of income tax on behalf of the Welsh government, but the Welsh Revenue Authority collects and manages other devolved taxes in Wales.

HMRC also pay some welfare benefits, like tax credits and child benefit.

Local councils are responsible for collecting council tax and rates.

The Driver & Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) collects vehicle tax.

What is 'Your Charter'?

You can find HMRC’s ‘Your Charter’ on GOV.UK. The charter sets out what HMRC expect from you (your obligations in relation to tax), but also what you can expect from them (your rights).

Where can I find more information?

You can find out more information about what HMRC do, and their responsibilities, on GOV.UK.

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Tax essentials

  • Introduction to the tax system
  • How do I work out my tax?
  • What income is taxable?
  • What tax allowances am I entitled to?
  • What tax rates apply to me?
  • How is my tax collected?
  • Do I need to complete a tax return?
  • How do I claim tax back?
  • What is National Insurance?
  • How do I get a National Insurance number?
  • What is devolution?
  • What is Scottish income tax?
  • What is Welsh income tax?
  • Do I have to join a pension scheme?
  • Where can I get help?
  • Do students have to pay council tax?
  • Digital services – dealing with your tax and tax credits online
  • What to do when things go wrong?
  • Jargon buster (an easy-to-understand A-Z glossary)

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