Please see below a clarification from SportNI on a ‘rates holiday’

Please share with anyone who you think would be interested.

Dear Governing Body / Sporting Organisation,

Our department, the Department for Communities of the Northern Ireland Executive, has helpfully provided clarification from Land and Property Services on the ‘rates holiday’.

Rate bills are being delayed until the beginning of June 2020.  The purpose of this is to avoid placing financial pressure on ratepayers during what are expected to be the peak months of the COVID-19 outbreak. 

There will be a three month rate holiday for all business rate payers.  The effect of this is that no rates will be charged for April, May and June 2020.

The ‘rates holiday’ will apply to every business bill, including properties where industrial de-rating, sport and recreational, small business rate relief, vacant rating relief or partial exemption has also been given.

Despite what some people are saying on social media, this does not mean that the same rate bill has to be paid in a shorter period of time – no rates are being charged for April, May and June.  This means that the rate bill will be 25% smaller than it would normally be for the year.

You do not need to do anything or contact LPS – the reliefs will all be applied automatically to the bills. The amount of the discount for the rate holiday will appear on the rate bill.

Thank you

Sport NI