Shooting tax in scotland

[HonestJohn]

Taxed hard for what you are forced to do, and if you don’t, get hit with bill for it to be managed onto you.

Welcome to 2026 and hard line socialism.

 

[sauer]

Taxed to hilt

You'll be taxed for breathing shortly

 

[Dan Newcombe]

Checking online, sporting leaseholders seem to be required to pay rates, even if they don’t pay a lease fee.

Only if it says all rates are responsibility of the lease holder in the agreement

 

[Dan Newcombe]

Its worse than that. I am aware of an FOI that was submitted to Borders Council, which identified the average rates income from sporting was about £80k per year. It will cost a heck of a lot more than that to administer the scheme!
I do agree that the Green and anti field sports agenda is pushing this change but I also think there is pressure from Regional Authorities to close the funding gap.

This will be basically why they are doing it, to remove the people who weren’t paying because of the well established relief.
Even more galling is that when it all came about this was raised and the answer was ‘yes it could be removed but it is for individual councils to determine if they want to’ - and surprise surprise the politicians can’t be trusted

 

[griff]

Well, I have already received my rates bill from D&G council that will come into effect on April 1st. Got it 2 weeks ago, so they were well informed it was a done deal.

 

[Mickeydredd]

I heard it is being discussed at high level currently, hopefully the Scottish Government are as good at u-turns as labour.

 

[cooksey]

I heard it is being discussed at high level currently, hopefully the Scottish Government are as good at u-turns as labour.

They won't in this it's a tax on the "wealthy landowning English"

 

[Mickeydredd]

They won't in this it's a tax on the "wealthy landowning English"

We shall just have to wait and see

 

[slider]

They won't in this it's a tax on the "wealthy landowning English"

I think there will be some easing of the proposals with regard to deer stalking and what is or is not "purely deer management " but I don't have much hope for game shooting

 

[griff]

I heard it is being discussed at high level currently, hopefully the Scottish Government are as good at u-turns as labour.

Its a done deal. I have already got my sporting rates bill.

 

[homer]

I think there will be some easing of the proposals with regard to deer stalking and what is or is not "purely deer management " but I don't have much hope for game shooting

And a lot of syndicates have the game and deer, so will have to cough up!
One sw syndicate i am in also includes game, even though there hasn't been game birds there for years (apart from woodcock), and none of us has fired a shotgun shot on that bit of ground since we've had it. Will this mean we have a rates bill or will all sw ground be exempt?

 

[cooksey]

And a lot of syndicates have the game and deer, so will have to cough up!
One sw syndicate i am in also includes game, even though there hasn't been game birds there for years (apart from woodcock), and none of us has fired a shotgun shot on that bit of ground since we've had it. Will this mean we have a rates bill or will all sw ground be exempt?

It won't matter it's based on potential you have to potential to be a game shoot

 

[homer]

It won't matter it's based on potential you have to potential to be a game shoot

Well have to ask to see if sw will change the lease to stalking only.

 

[slider]

Well have to ask to see if sw will change the lease to stalking only.

I'm sure they will be happy to change the lease to stalking only. However what is still to be defined is "purely deer management". I think the initial plans were that is a syndicate paid for the privilege of deer stalking then that was "sporting" and not "purely deer management" and si not eligible for the rate relief exemption.

I understand that this point is the focus of a much of the discussion between Scottish Government and BASC/BDS/ADMG etc.

 

[homer]

I'm sure they will be happy to change the lease to stalking only. However what is still to be defined is "purely deer management". I think the initial plans were that is a syndicate paid for the privilege of deer stalking then that was "sporting" and not "purely deer management" and si not eligible for the rate relief exemption.

I understand that this point is the focus of a much of the discussion between Scottish Government and BASC/BDS/ADMG etc.

Youd have thought killing deer is killing deer, whether you pay for that privilege or not, shouldn't matter!

 

[Bugsy]

I’m of the understanding when I read the form that because I do - Deer Control and Vermin Control I would be eligible for rate relief .. I’m just about to pay 1 of my leases and if I have to pay the rates I won’t be taking them next year . I’m on the lease alone , it’s not ran as a syndicate so here’s hoping .

 

[cooksey]

Youd have thought killing deer is killing deer, whether you pay for that privilege or not, shouldn't matter!

No it's very different! Your renting the rights you have made a transaction with that business.

 

[homer]

Ye

No it's very different! Your renting the rights you have made a transaction with that business.

Yes, but your still controling the numbers. I dont pay for stalking rights to not shoot any deer.

 

[cooksey]

Ye
Yes, but your still controling the numbers. I dont pay for stalking rights to not shoot any deer.

No but your a recreational stalker not a cull contractor/pest controller being paid to kill them

 

[Heym SR20]

I’m of the understanding when I read the form that because I do - Deer Control and Vermin Control I would be eligible for rate relief .. I’m just about to pay 1 of my leases and if I have to pay the rates I won’t be taking them next year . I’m on the lease alone , it’s not ran as a syndicate so here’s hoping .

It really doesn’t matter. If there is potential for game shooting then rates will apply.

About the only land that will be exempt will be commercial forestry that has never sporting leases in the past, or purely nature restoration projects run by charities. Deer management will also need to be a cost to the landowner- ie the deer are being shot by a paid employee or contractor.

Final assessment will come down to individual councils, but they are all broke, in desperate need of cash and the Sporting Rates are a cash call on Landowners, so I very much doubt there will be much wiggle room.

It’s an utter shite storm and any body who shoots, who voted SNP should be withdrawing their support and make it known to their MSP.