CHESS has heavily criticised the government for the Local Income Tax proposals which will result in unfair taxation of students. We are calling upon the Government to give full-time students a full exemption from the policies.

It is estimated that 55,000 of Scotland’s poorest students will be affected by the proposed changes. The changes would force poorer students to work longer hours to recoup the money lost through tax, thus giving them significantly less time to prepare for their studies. There is also concern that the income needed to continue to study will increase significantly due to students being charged up to £700 for water: a cost they never previously had to absorb.

Currently, students on average earn £8,000 per annum: an amount significantly over the threshold for taxation. As such, CHESS believes that the government’s comment that ‘the vast majority of full-time Scottish students will pay absolutely nothing’ is incorrect.

Gavin Lee, Convenor of CHESS and President of the Glasgow University SRC, commented: “CHESS are extremely disappointed that the Government are disregarding their vote grabbing pledge to ‘dump the debt’ by increasing the financial pressure students are faced with. A fairer tax. I think not!”

CHESS will continue to work towards ensuring that these proposals are not made into policy. We have made the Scottish Parliament and media aware of our concern and will continue to update students of progress to this campaign.

The Local Income Tax briefing is available here.