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Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs An Roinn Talmhaíochta, Comhshaoil agus Gnóthaí Tuaithe Depairtment o' Fairmin, Environment an' Kintra Matthers

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  • Entitlements and Transfers

    Topics:
    • Land and Landscapes, 
    • Environmental Advice for Planning, 
    • Grants and Funding, 
    • Advice and guidance, 
    • Area-based Schemes, 
    • Farming Grants

    Entitlements & Transfer Guide is below and contains all the relevant information that you should read carefully. You also have access to all the most up to date forms relating to Entitlements & Transfer of Entitlements.

    Entitlement
    9% of the unit value of BPS entitlements has been redirected to fund the new Beef Carbon Reduction Scheme and the introduction of the Suckler Cow Scheme from January 2025. The amendment has been applied to the unit value of entitlements on the Entitlements Register in 2024

    BPS entitlements form the basis of the BPS and are what farm businesses use to get paid BPS each year. To successfully apply for BPS each year your farm business must hold and ‘activate’ the same number of entitlements as you are declaring in eligible hectares of land. Entitlements are activated by using them to claim BPS payment. For example, if you apply for BPS payment on the basis that you are farming 10 hectares of eligible land you must also hold at least 10 entitlements to receive your payment.

    How do I obtain BPS entitlements?

    If your farm business does not already own entitlements you can obtain them in a number of ways:

    1. By applying to the ‘Regional Reserve’. To find out more on applications to the Regional Reserve you should read our Guide to the Young Farmers’ Payment / Regional Reserve.
    2. By inheriting them when a farmer who currently holds entitlements dies, or where a farmer who currently holds entitlements has transferred all land they own by gift to another person. To find out more on Transfers you should read our Guide to the Transfer of Basic Payment Scheme Entitlements at the link below.
    3. By leasing or purchasing them from another farm business which currently holds entitlements and wants to lease or sell them. This is called a ‘Transfer’ of entitlements. To find out more on Transfers you should read our Guide to the Transfer of Basic Payment Scheme Entitlements at the link below.

    Confiscation of BPS entitlements (the ‘2-year rule’)

    BPS entitlements may be confiscated for non-usage. We no longer rotate entitlements on behalf of farm businesses. It is your responsibility to manage and activate your entitlements for payment. You must activate all of your entitlements in at least one scheme year over any 2-year period, except in cases of force majeure/exceptional circumstances. Any entitlement (or fraction of entitlement) that remains unused for 2 consecutive years will be automatically taken off you (confiscated).

    Guidance & Forms
    Two blocks with words advice and Guidance

    You are advised to read this Guide before completing an application to transfer Basic Payment Scheme Entitlements.

    • Guide to the Transfer of Basic Payments Entitlements
    • Q&A Transfer of Entitlements
    • TE1 - Actual Inheritance
    • TE1 - Anticipated Inheritance
    • Entitlements Inheritance Indemnity Form

    Related content

    • 2014 - 2020 Rural Development Programme
    • Am I eligible for BCR?
    • Area-based Schemes - Current Scheme Details
    • BCR Payments
    • Beef Carbon Reduction Scheme - Terms and Conditions
    • Beef Carbon Reduction Scheme Retention Period Examples
    • Biodiversity Checklist
    • Checks that we will carry out if you opt-in for BCR
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    • DAERA Digital datasets available for download
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    • Development Plan Evidence Guides
    • Entitlements and Transfers 2025
    • Farm Business Improvement Scheme - Capital Scheme (FBIS-C)
    • Farm Business Improvement Scheme Capital Scheme (FBIS-C) Tier 2 Tranche 2
    • Farm Business Improvement Scheme – Capital (FBIS – C) - ‘Making It Safer’ Self-Assessment
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    • FBIS Capital Scheme - contact details
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    • FBIS Capital Scheme - Tier 1 Tranche 4
    • How do I opt-in for BCR?
    • How to Apply
    • How to Apply
    • New & Future Schemes
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    • Other Useful Information
    • Other Useful Information
    • Practice Guides
    • Registering for Government Gateway (GG) and NIDA Accounts
    • Review of Decisions 2024
    • Review of Decisions 2025
    • Standing Advice
    • Terms and conditions of the Farming with Nature Transition Scheme
    • User Friendly Reference Document
    • What is the Beef Carbon Reduction (BCR) Scheme
    • What to do if you are not happy with our decisions?
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