Asda, Tesco, B&M and Sainsbury's have declared they will repay the Executive for the four month rates holiday granted to all business premises in the north earlier this year.
But the level of repayment will be a fraction of the hundreds of millions the supermarkets giants saved from an unlimited rates break in England.
The greater portion of any repayment made to the north’s rates collection agency, Land and Property Services (LPS), will relate to the four-month blanket holiday for all non-domestic rate-payers between April and July.
Unlike the rates holiday across the water, most-large food stores in the north are excluded from the extended rates break granted to retail, hospitality, tourism, leisure and childcare premises until the end of March 2021. Airports are also included.
That extended holiday in Northern Ireland excludes supermarkets with shop floor space of more than 500 square metres (5,380 sq ft), wholly or mainly used for the sale of food and household goods.
Off-licences are also excluded.
It’s understood that around 18 smaller Tesco Express stores in the north meet that criteria, and therefore will see the grocer repay a larger chunk than their rivals.
Tesco said it is unable to state how much it will repay LPS, but described it as “a fraction” of the £585m in total it’s preparing to hand back.
Aldi and Morrisons, which do not operate in Northern Ireland, have also declared that they will hand over the sums saved from the UK Government’s rates relief measures.
In all, the six will repay around £1.7 billion to the government.
Marks & Spencer said it does not intend to return its £83m of UK business rates relief, while Lidl has yet to clarify its position.
The Department of Finance developed its rates support package with the Ulster University Economic Policy Centre
A spokesperson said: “In England a 12-months rates holiday was provided to all retail irrespective of size or the type of goods sold.
“The department welcomes the intention of a number of large supermarket retailers to repay their rate relief - this funding will be reinvested in public services.”
