As part of the NSW Government’s COVID-19 economic stimulus package most licensees will have their annual liquor licence base fee and trading hours risk loading fee waived for 12 months (2020-2021 fee period). These licensees will receive a $0 invoice.
Compliance risk loadings will not be waived, but will be deferred and included as part of 2021-2022 annual liquor licence fees.
Bottle shops and home delivery businesses (packaged liquor licences) with four or more outlets owned by the same licensee or business are not eligible for automatic fee waiver assistance at this time but may apply on a case by case basis on financial hardship grounds.
Annual liquor licence fees are calculated by L&GNSW on 15 March each year using licence information held by the NSW Government.
The annual licence fee is calculated on a simple model:
Risk-based loadings increase when the risk level of a premises increases.
For example: If you’re a business with a large, late trading premises located in a major entertainment precinct, and have a poor compliance history, your business will be identified as high-risk and attract additional risk-based loadings.
As part of the NSW Government’s COVID-19 economic stimulus package most licensees will have their annual liquor licence base fee and trading hours risk loading fee waived for 12 months (2020-2021 fee period).
A trading hours risk loading normally applies if a premise is authorised to regularly trade after midnight, but all have been waived for 2020-2021.
Find out more about trading hours risk loading conditions and exemptions.
Compliance risk loading fees are not being waived for 2020-2021, but will be deferred and included as part of 2021-2022 annual liquor licence fees.
Compliance risk loadings apply if, in the past calendar year:
Compliance risk loadings include three factors:
Find out more about compliance risk loadings.
Compliance history risk loading is based on the compliance history of your liquor licence in the previous calendar year.
If more than one of the following loadings applies to your licence, you will only pay the highest amount.
The patron capacity risk loading only applies if you are also required to pay a compliance history risk loading. Your patron capacity risk loading is based on the number of people your premises is allowed to hold.
Note: Accommodation areas are not included in the patron capacity of a licensed premises.
Location risk loading only applies if you are required to pay a compliance history risk loading. Venues in the Kings Cross and Sydney CBD precincts automatically attract a $2,200 location risk loading fee.
In 2020, annual liquor licence fees are due for payment by 31 August. If you miss this payment date and your licence is suspended, a late payment fee of $112 is added to your liquor licence fee
If you miss the 2020 annual liquor licence fee payment date of 31 August, you will need to pay your licence fee and a late payment fee. If you do not pay your annual liquor licence fee and late payment fee by 27 October, your licence will be cancelled.
If your licence is cancelled and you still need to use it, you need to apply for a reinstatement of your licence and pay a reinstatement fee of $275 on top of your annual liquor licence fee and late payment fee.
In 2020 notices were issued on 20 May and due for payment on 31 August. Depending on the contact details we have for you, you may receive your annual liquor licence notice via email, mail or both.
We will contact you with:
Annual liquor licence fee notices have been sent to all licensees.
As part of the NSW Government’s COVID-19 economic stimulus package, most licensees will have their annual liquor licence base fee and trading hours risk loading fee waived for 12 months (2020-2021 fee period). These licensees will receive a $0 invoice.
If you receive a $0 invoice you do not need to take any action – your liquor licence will be renewed automatically.
If you are not eligible for the automatic fee waiver, the payment amount listed on your annual liquor licence fee notice is due on 31 August. Pay now.
If you are experiencing financial hardship, but not eligible for the automatic annual liquor licence fee waiver, you can still apply for a fee waiver up until 24 August. Apply now.
Annual liquor licence base fees and trading hours risk loading fees will be waived for most licensees in NSW this year.
Compliance risk loadings will not be waived, but deferred and included as part of 2021-2022 annual liquor licence fees.
Read our news story for more information.
If you think your fee is incorrect you can apply for a fee reassessment. Applications close on 27 October. Apply now.
If you apply for a fee reassessment and are not informed of the outcome before the fee payment due date on 31 August, you are required to pay your annual liquor licence fee in full to avoid suspension and/or cancellation of your licence and a late payment fee.
If you were informed that your fee reassessment application has been successful after you made the payment in full, the difference will be refunded to you.
If you are experiencing financial hardship, you can apply for a fee waiver. Applications close on 24 August. Apply now.
You still need to pay an annual liquor licence fee if you are currently not trading.
If you have ceased trading or your licence has been temporarily or voluntarily suspended, you still need to pay your annual liquor licence fee because your licence is still valid.
We send email reminders with important information about your liquor licence, including annual fee notices, and reminders.
Update your details online
