Non-profit making organisations

We may be able to reduce the amount of business rates that you have to pay if we consider that your business is a non-profit making organisation.

If you're successful with your application for discretionary relief then the amount of business rates that you are liable to pay will be reduced by 50%.

Eligibility

To qualify for discretionary relief as a non-profit making organisation your business must:

  • be charitable, philanthropic or have religious purposes
    or
  • be concerned with educational, social welfare, science, literature, the fine arts, or used wholly or mainly for recreation by a not for profit club or society

We'll also need to be satisfied that:

  • the organisation supports the council’s priorities
  • the organisation is fully inclusive and accessible, and if based on membership that it is open to all
  • a discretionary relief award would be in the best interests of Stockport residents

Criteria

To qualify for discretionary rate relief, the following criteria must be met:

  • the organisation must promote its services for the benefit of Stockport residents
  • at least 51% of the membership must be made up of Stockport residents
  • membership of the organisation must be open to all members of the community, regardless of
    ability, subject to the physical capacity of the premises, unless there are legitimate restrictions placed on membership
  • membership rates must not, in the opinion of the council, exclude the general
    community
  • organisations must actively encourage membership from groups such as young people, older age
    groups, persons with a disability or ethnic minorities. Encouragement should be demonstrated by either:
    • differential fee structures for such groups
    • provision of schemes of training or education for such groups
    • a membership which consists of at least 25% of people from such groups
    • the facilities of the organisation should be made available to people other than members, for example, schools or casual public sessions, subject to licensing requirements

How to apply

To apply for relief as a non-profit making organisation, contact our Business Rates team to request a form:

Last updated 13 June 2025