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HMRC have launched a campaign to help students manage tax better and develop good financial habits.

The Student Tax Advice campaign will be promoted with a Student Tax Aware Week which runs from 3 to 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:

• personal allowances;
• tax codes;
• what to do with forms such as the P45, P60 and P38(S);
• what to do if they have more than one job;
• National Insurance;
• the importance of knowing and using their National Insurance Number (NINO); and
• 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.