Commercial Rates Waiver Scheme 2021

In recognition of the impact that COVID19 is having on businesses a six month waiver will apply to specified businesses for January to June 2021. This waiver has modified criteria and accordingly is a separate standalone waiver scheme from the scheme that applied in 2020.

The waivers will take the form of a credit in lieu of rates and the value is the equivalent of 50% of the annual rate bill for 2021.

This six month waiver will apply to all eligible businesses closed by or badly impacted by Level 5 restrictions.

Commercial Rates Waiver Scheme

How to apply:

An application to Longford County Council is not required. Longford County Council will automatically apply a  credit in lieu of commercial rates for the six month period to classes and categories of occupied rateable property where the occupying business is not in an excluded category identified below.   

The full list of categories and uses of commercial rate properties that are deemed eligible for the Waiver is available here: Valuation categories and uses which are automatically eligible for January to June 2021 waiver

This credit does not apply to the following Excluded Categories:

This credit in lieu of rates for the first six months of 2021 does not apply to the following broad categories:

Public Service*

Vacant Properties (all vacant property as is ordinarily understood for rates is excluded from the waiver);*

Global Utility Networks on the Central Valuation List

Properties in the "Office" Valuation Category

Properties in the "Industrial Uses" Valuation Category

Properties in the "Miscellaneous" Valuation Category

Properties in the "Minerals" Valuation Category

Properties in the "Utility" Valuation Category

Supermarkets greater than 500M2 (Categories Supermarket 2 and Supermarket 3)

Properties with the valuation category of "Department Store" but which are occupied either partially or wholly by a supermarket which sells food and/or groceries.

Banks, Building Societies and Credit Unions

Pharmaceutical manufacturing

The full list of Excluded Categories and Uses is available to review here: Valuation Categories and Uses which are excluded from January to June 2021 waiver. Business in the excluded categories above, save public service properties and vacant properties, may seek eligibility from Longford County Council if it can be shown the business was severely impacted by the pandemic from April to June 2021. The Council may request documentary evidence to support eligibility. In this circumstance, please apply to rates@longfordcoco.ie on or before Friday 16 July 2021 by completing the Rates Waiver Appeal Form.

Additional information on the Rate Waiver Scheme 2021 is available by clicking on the link to the Frequently Asked Questions. Frequently Asked Question January to June 2021 waiver.

Should you have any queries in relation to the Rates Waiver 2021 please contact the Rates Team on 043 3343380/3343322 or e-mail: rates@longfordcoco.ie