Securing a Four-Year Climate Change Levy Rebate for a Rugby Club
Background
Our client, a well-established rugby club with extensive facilities including a clubhouse, bar, and floodlit training grounds, had been paying Climate Change Levy (CCL) on their energy bills for several years.
When we were appointed to review their energy costs, our initial goal was to identify potential savings and ensure they were being billed correctly. However, during our review, we discovered something significant — the club should have been exempt from CCL altogether under HMRC guidelines for charitable and non-profit sports organisations.
The Challenge
The club had been overpaying CCL for years, unaware that their non-profit status qualified them for exemption.
Key challenges included:
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Determining the correct eligibility status under HMRC rules.
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Gathering historical documentation to support a retrospective claim.
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Working with multiple suppliers to ensure all eligible rebates were processed correctly.
The club’s administrators had limited experience dealing with HMRC energy exemptions, and without specialist help, recovering overpaid funds would have been complex and time-consuming.
Our Approach
Our team carried out a comprehensive energy and tax compliance review, which included:
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Assessing eligibility: We reviewed the club’s legal and financial status to confirm exemption under the relevant HMRC criteria.
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Verifying billing data: We analysed historical gas and electricity invoices to quantify the total CCL paid over the past four years.
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Preparing documentation: We assisted the club in completing and submitting the correct CCL exemption certificates (PP10 and PP11 forms) to both HMRC and their suppliers.
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Liaising with suppliers: We managed all communication with energy providers to ensure that historical charges were recalculated and refunded promptly.
The Result
Our intervention resulted in a successful rebate covering four years of overpaid CCL, delivering a substantial five-figure refund directly to the rugby club.
In addition:
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The club’s ongoing energy bills are now fully exempt from CCL.
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Future compliance processes have been put in place to ensure the exemption remains valid.
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The recovered funds have been reinvested into improving club facilities and supporting community programmes.
Client Feedback
“Thanks to Clear Bridge, the club has been able to reclaim the CCL element of previous utility bills. The company delivered on the agreement and kept to the original estimates without wavering. A company with integrity and we look forward to working with them again.”
Key Takeaways
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Many not-for-profit sports clubs and community organisations are unaware of their entitlement to CCL exemption.
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A detailed energy cost audit can reveal hidden opportunities for rebates and ongoing savings.
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Expert handling of the HMRC and supplier process ensures clients receive the maximum rebate with minimal disruption.
