Charitable Rate Relief
Registered charities are entitled to rate relief if they meet certain criteria.
How much rate relief are charities entitled to?
Registered charities are entitled to 80% rate relief on non-domestic properties, which are wholly or mainly occupied for the purposes of the charity.
This includes charity shops selling donated goods.
What other relief is available?
Charities can also apply to the council for relief on all or part of the remaining 20%. This is known as a discretionary top-up.
Charitable or not-for-profit organisations that are not registered with the Charity Commission can also apply for discretionary relief from the Council.
How do I apply?
The mandatory relief will be automatically applied to your bill, once you inform us of your registered charity number.
To apply for the discretionary relief, you will need to complete the application from and provide the following evidence:
- A history of your business during the last 3 years (or from when you commenced trading if less than 3 years)
- A set of accounts covering a financial year which ended in the last 12 months
- A projected profit and loss account covering the coming 6 months, together with an explanation of all the assumptions made
- A statement indicating how, if relief was awarded, it would be used to benefit the business and the direct employment of staff
- A statement describing the benefits the business brings to local people