The public petitions system has now closed ahead of the Scottish Parliament elections on 7 May 2026. It is not possible to submit a new petition to the Scottish Parliament or sign a petition until after the election.
The petitions system will reopen at the start of the new parliamentary session.
For more information about the petitions process, please contact the committee team at petitions.committee@parliament.scot.
For more information about the election campaign period and the dissolution of the current parliament, please visit the Scottish Parliament’s Election 2026 webpage: https://www.parliament.scot/msps/elections/election-2026
Closed petition PE2184: Provide BID levy relief to charities and non-profit organisations
Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to:
• amend the relevant legislation so that charities and non-profits that qualify for mandatory or discretionary rates relief under Section 4(2)(a) of the Local Government (Financial Provisions etc.) (Scotland) Act 1962 are also exempt from paying the BID levy, or receive equivalent relief
• conduct a survey of businesses affected by BIDs, in order to assess the impact of the levy more widely, particularly on small businesses and third-sector organisations, and to implement any further legislative changes that may arise from such a review.
Background information
The primary aim of our petition is a change in national policy to bring the Business Improvement District (BID) levy in line with existing non-domestic rates relief legislation for charities and non-profit organisations.
This would ensure consistency in how charitable organisations are treated across different local taxation mechanisms.
Currently, while charities may receive up to 100% relief on non-domestic rates, they are still liable for the full BID levy in many areas, regardless of their charitable status or community benefit. This creates a financial burden that undermines the intent of the original rates relief legislation.
It would also be good to look at the health of BIDs more widely. For example, in our local Paisley ballot, out of 673 businesses, only 260 voted. Of these, 201 were in favour of the BID and 59 against. The ballot was legitimate, with over 25% of businesses voting. However, 413 businesses never took part and 59 said no, so the majority of businesses in the area were not necessarily in favour of the BID.
This petition was considered by the Scottish Parliament
99 signatures