The Government has doubled fees for gun ownership in a move that will be seen as a fresh “tax” raid on rural communities.
On Wednesday, the Home Office announced that fees for gun certificates would increase by as much as 157 per cent as part of efforts to tackle a police funding crisis.
The move to increase the “gun tax”, part of the Government’s police funding settlement, is expected to raise £20 million. Forces will be allowed to pass on the full cost of administering the licensing scheme to gun owners.
Renewal of a shotgun certificate will increase by 157 per cent from £49 to £126. Granting a shotgun certificate will rise from £79.50 to £194, a leap of 144 per cent.
Renewal of a firearms certificate will go from £62 to £131, a rise of 111 per cent, and granting such a certificate will increase by 125 per cent from £88 to £198.
‘Could hardly be designed to be more inefficient’
Tim Bonner, the chief executive of the Countryside Alliance said: “Up to 157 per cent increases in the cost of shotgun and firearms certificates is going to have a significant financial impact on the many in the countryside.
“We have consistently argued that, if the Government wants to recover the cost of firearms licensing, that must be for an efficient system that delivers for users and the public.
“That is a million miles from the current firearms licensing system, which could hardly be designed to be more inefficient, with 43 separate licensing authorities – some of which are providing appalling service.”
There were more than 500,000 active shotgun licences in England and Wales last year. The permits have to be renewed every five years at a cost of around £50.
Move follows ‘family farm tax’
The move comes on top of the Government’s “family farm tax”, which has sparked a revolt by rural communities.
Under the changes, which come into force from April 2026, farms worth more than £1 million will be subject to a 20 per cent levy to a 20 per cent levy – half the usual inheritance tax rate.
Rural groups have argued that the £1 million threshold will hit the majority of working family farms, which are asset rich but cash poor, rather than targeting wealthy landowners seeking to avoid inheritance tax.
In recent weeks, almost two dozen councils have passed motions calling on the Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, and Steve Reed, the Environment Secretary, to axe the measure.
