The Community Amateur Sports Clubs (CASC) scheme was established in 2002 to recognise grassroots sports clubs in the tax system. To qualify, sports clubs must meet the following criteria

1. Be wholly open to all sections of the community
2. Have the promotion of amateur sports participation at their heart
3. Generate no profit, re-investing any surplus in the club.

The key benefits of CASC registration include:

• 80% mandatory business rate relief (and up to 100% discretionary relief)
• the ability to raise funds from individual donations through Gift Aid
• exemption from Corporation Tax on profits from trading income if less than £30,000 p/a and from property income if less than £20,000 p/a.

For more information on how to apply to be a CASC, please see our dedicated website, www.cascinfo.co.uk.

Tim Lamb explains the benefits of the CASC scheme to Sky Sports News March 2013:

Actions

The Alliance runs regular CASC forums to bring together national governing body representatives and also supply them with a regular newsletter.

The Alliance is currently reviewing legislation and the interpretation of legislation with HMRC with the aim of reforming CASC legislation. We are also discussing with Government the idea of allowing Gift Aid on junior subscriptions for sports clubs.