Charitable Rate Relief
You may get this relief if your property is mainly used for charitable purposes. Charitable rate relief gives you up to 80% off your business rates bill.
Who can apply?
- A charity or its trustees
- A community amateur sports club (CASC) registered with HMRC
You can’t get charitable rate relief and small business rate relief at the same time. The council will decide which applies.
Proof you’ll need
- Charity registration number or proof of charitable status
- CASC registration details
How to apply
Contact us to:
- Check if you’re eligible
- Apply for charitable rate relief
- Ask if discretionary relief can be added
- See if you qualify for other reliefs
Changes you need to report
Tell us if:
- Your property becomes empty
- You get another property
- You make changes that increase its value
- Your business changes or moves
If your relief changes, you’ll pay the new rate from the date of the change.
Visit GOV.UK for more information, including registering a charity or CASC.
Contact
Business Rates Team
Telephone
0151 443 4126/4069
business.rates@knowsley.gov.uk
Improvement relief
You may get Improvement Relief if you make certain improvements to your property. If you qualify, the relief lasts for one year, starting from when you completed the improvements.
Eligibility
Any improvements must:
- Increase the property’s rateable value
- Be completed on or after 1 April 2024
They must also either:
- Increase the size of your property
- Add new features or equipment to your property, such as heating, air conditioning or CCTV
Improvements to existing features or equipment do not qualify.
You must have occupied the property during and after the improvement works to get improvement relief. Relief can’t be transferred to anyone else.
How to get improvement relief
Report the changes to your property using your business rates valuation account.
The VOA will decide if the changes qualify and send a certify cate to you and Knowsley Council showing:
- How the improvement affects the property’s rateable value
- When the relief ends
Once the council confirm you occupied the property during the improvement works, we will:
- Decide how much relief you are entitled to
- Send you a reduced bill
More information on improvement relief is available on GOV.UK including how you can report changes using your business rates valuation account.
If you think you should be getting improvement relief but are not, please contact us.
Contact
Business Rates Team
Telephone
0151 443 4126/4069