Paying tax whilst using a stipend

Z

Hello,

I have been offered a funded part-time PhD, which comes with a tax-free stipend, I currently work full time.

I am planning to formally reduce my contracted days to 4 a week, and will go down to 0.8 FTE on my salary.

Will I need to pay any additional tax on my salary by receiving the tax-free stipend? My 0.8 FTE will still keep me above the tax-free threshold. I am not expecting to pay any tax on the stipend, but I can't seem to find any clear information on what impact receiving it will have on the taxable side of my income.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated, thank you!

Avatar for rewt

A PhD bursary is tax free and doesn't count towards your personal allowance, so shouldn't affect your job. I have been told that it can sometimes affect your benefits through universal credit but not HMRC. Though if you are getting a full bursary will you be allowed to work 0.8 FTE? My bursary expressly stated that I was limited to 20 hours work a week outside work and I think it is UK Research Council rule.

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