Covid-19 Additional Relief Fund (CARF)

On 25 March 2021 the Government announced a new COVID-19 Additional Relief Fund (CARF) of £1.5 billion. The fund will be available to support those businesses affected by the pandemic but that are ineligible for existing support linked to business rates.

On 15 December 2021 the Rating (Coronavirus) and Directors Disqualification (Dissolved Companies) Bill 2021 attained Royal Assent.

This Bill allows Local Authorities to design a new COVID-19 Additional Relief Fund (CARF) Discretionary scheme to reduce Business Rate chargeable amounts in respect 2021/22 subject to Government guidance provided.

Government guidance provides the following exclusions:

• ratepayers who would have been eligible for the Extended Retail Discount scheme (ie retail, hospitality and leisure) or Nursery Discount for 2021/22.
• awards will only be in relation to occupied premises. No eligibility for businesses when the hereditament was unoccupied (other than closed temporarily due to government advice on COVID-19)

Support to be directed to:

• ratepayers who have been adversely affected by the pandemic and have been unable to adapt adequately.

Subsidy Allowance

Payments under this scheme are subject to Subsidy Allowance conditions, including subsidy obligations set out in the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) with the EU.

Businesses that have already received grant payments that equal the maximum permitted subsidy allowances will not be eligible to receive funding.  Find out more about organisation rules on subsidies, and other international commitments.