Business Rates: Charitable Rate Relief

Charities and Community Amateur Sports Clubs

Charities and Community Amateur Sports Clubs (CASCs) can apply for up to 80% mandatory rate relief on any business property that is wholly or mainly used for charitable purposes.

In addition to this we can award up to a further 20% discretionary relief.

For more information about how applications for discretionary relief are considered please see below.

Non-profit making organisations

While non-profit making bodies do not qualify for mandatory relief, we are able to award up to 100% discretionary rate relief to organisations whose main objectives are charitable, religious or concerned with education, social welfare, science, literature or fine arts.

Sporting organisations may also be treated as non-profit making organisations, if they meet the qualifying criteria, as detailed below.

How applications for discretionary relief are considered

Please see below for details about how applications for discretionary relief are assessed. Adur and Worthing currently have different policies:

• Adur scoring matrix for discretionary rate relief (593KB)
• Worthing scoring matrix for discretionary rate relief (524KB)

Apply for mandatory or discretionary relief

To apply for either:

• 80% mandatory charitable relief (charities and community amateur sports clubs)
• 20% mandatory relief plus up to 20% discretionary relief
• up to 100% discretionary relief (non-profit making organisations)

Please complete and return the form below, together with the supporting evidence referred to on page 4 of the form. Please give as much information as you can to help us consider your application.

• Business Rates - Charity Relief application form - to hand write (268KB)

Once we receive your application one of our inspectors will visit the property, and we will then write to you to let you know the outcome. If you do not agree with our decision please contact us to discuss.

Please note, if an application for discretionary relief is received after 30th September in any given year and relief is awarded, it can only be backdated to the start of the current financial year.

If you have any questions about completing an application or need any further information, please contact the Revenues & Benefits service. 

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