HM REVENUE AND
CUSTOMS News Release (Ref:NAT 12/08) issued by The Government News
Network on 3 March 2008
Helping students
manage tax better and develop good financial habits is the focus
of a new Student Tax Advice campaign launched today by HM Revenue
& Customs (HMRC).
The campaign will be promoted with a Student Tax Aware Week which
runs from 3 -10 March 2008.
Commenting on the campaign, Jane Frost, Director of HMRC
Individuals Customer Unit said:
"With three quarters of students working it's vital
they understand they have the same responsibilities as everyone
else for their tax and national insurance.
"This campaign will make dealing with tax easier for
students, from National Insurance to tax refunds. Getting into
good financial habits now will serve them well in the future.
"We're advising all students to visit http://www.studenttaxadvice.org.uk
to find out the basics about tax, and if you have a specific query
you can check this online and find out what to do next."
HMRC's Student Tax Advice campaign is being supported by the
National Union of Students (NUS), universities and student finance
organisations. A new website for the campaign aims to become the
first port of call for students with questions about tax: http://www.studenttaxadvice.org.uk.
Ama Uzowuru, Vice President Welfare at the NUS, says
"We're delighted to be working with HMRC to help
students find the right advice whenever and wherever they need it.
We encourage students to log on to studenttaxadvice.org.uk and
find out about tax."
As part of the week's activity new print student tax
information materials are being distributed on campus; a Student
Tax Refund Calculator will be made available on Facebook and tax
information films placed on YouTube.
According to the HMRC Student Tax Advice campaign, students need
to know about the following:
- Their Personal Allowance
- Their tax code
- What to do with forms such as the P45, P60 and P38(S)
- What to do if they have more than one job
- What National Insurance is
- The importance of knowing and using their National Insurance
Number (NINO)
- Ensuring HMRC has their current address
Findings of the Student Tax Advice research include:
- A total of 76% of students are in paid employment: 58% of
students work part-time, while 39% do 'odd jobs' now and again
- More male (66%) than female students work part-time (55%)
- The retail sector is the biggest employer for UK students, at
32%; followed by office work (26%), and bar work, (18%).
- Students are aware of the importance of knowing their National
Insurance Number, with 93% claiming to know their number, or to
have it safely to hand.
Issued by HM Revenue & Customs Press Office
Website http://www.hmrc.gov.uk