This scheme has now closed and we will no longer be taking applications.
On 25 March 2021 the government announced a new COVID-19 Additional Relief Fund (CARF) of £1.5 billion to support those business rate payers affected by the pandemic but that are ineligible for existing support linked to business rates.
On 15 December 2021 the government published guidance on the operation of the fund and details of the funding allocation for each local authority.
Awards can only be made to reduce the chargeable amounts in respect of 2021/22 and the government has made clear that the following are ineligible for the Business Rates Covid-19 Additional Relief Fund (CARF):
- ratepayers who for the same period of the relief either are or would have been eligible for the Extended Retail Discount (covering Retail, Hospitality and Leisure), the Nursery Discount or the Airport and Ground Operations Support Scheme (AGOSS)
- for a period when a property is unoccupied (other than property which has become closed temporarily due to the government's advice on COVID-19, which should be treated as occupied for the purposes of this relief)
As this is a relief to reduce the chargeable amount payable for 2021/22 businesses in receipt of 100% Small Business Rates Relief will not be eligible. Businesses that receive Small Business Rates Relief, but not at the 100% rate ( where they occupy a property with a rateable value between £12,001 and £14,999 inclusive) , may still qualify if they do not also receive Extended Retail Discount or Nursery Discount.
Awards are likely to amount to a subsidy and therefore any relief provided under this scheme will need to comply with the UK's domestic and international subsidy control obligations.
