This blog explains the annual declaration process for SFI 2024. For details of the annual declaration process for SFI 2023, please read the blog published on 13 August 2024.
What is the annual declaration?
The annual declaration is how you, as an SFI agreement holder, can confirm that you have met or expect to meet the requirements of your agreement for that year. It’s an important part of receiving the final payment for the agreement year.
You’ll make your annual declaration online using the Rural Payments service, making it accessible and straightforward.
What you need to do
Each SFI agreement lasts for 3 to 5 years. As an agreement holder, you need to submit an annual declaration during the last 2 months of each relevant agreement year.
The timing for the declaration depends on the start date of your SFI agreement, and the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) will let you know when the submission period opens. If we are unable to invite you to complete your declaration at the expected date, we will contact you by phone, email or letter.
Before submitting an annual declaration, you should download a copy of the current year’s agreement.
Below is a summary of what you need to do:
- Receive your notification: RPA will tell you when the annual declaration period begins.
- Access the Declaration Form:
- Sign in to the Rural Payments service.
- Click on the 'Business overview' section.
- Complete the Declaration:
- Click on the 'View Annual Declaration' button.
- On the screen asking, ‘Can you make your annual declaration confirming that you are complying with all your agreement obligations?', select 'Yes'.
- Review and submit your declaration.
- When the annual declaration is submitted, a confirmation message pops up on the screen. You may want to take a screenshot of the pop-up message or make a note in your records that you have submitted your annual declaration.
It’s important to submit your annual declaration within the timescale to receive the final quarterly instalment of your annual payment. Your final payment will usually be made 3 months after your third payment but will not be released until you have completed the 12th month of your agreement year.
If you haven’t been able to meet your agreement requirements for this year, you should select ‘No’ and complete the free-text box to explain why. RPA will then review this information and contact you.
Key dates for submitting your annual declaration
Below are the opening and closing dates for the annual declaration based on the start date of your agreement.
| Agreement start date | Declaration period opens | Declaration period closes |
| 1 August 2024 | 1 June 2025 | 31 July 2025 |
| 1 September 2024 | 1 July 2025 | 31 August 2025 |
| 1 October 2024 | 1 August 2025 | 30 September 2025 |
| 1 November 2024 | 1 September 2025 | 31 October 2025 |
| 1 December 2024 | 1 October 2025 | 30 November 2025 |
| 1 January 2025 | 1 November 2025 | 31 December 2025 |
| 1 February 2025 | 1 December 2025 | 31 January 2026 |
| 1 March 2025 | 1 January 2026 | 28 February 2026 |
| 1 April 2025 | 1 February 2026 | 31 March 2026 |
| 1 May 2025 | 1 March 2026 | 30 April 2026 |
| 1 June 2025 | 1 April 2026 | 31 May 2026 |
| 1 July 2025 | 1 May 2026 | 30 June 2026 |
You should mark the relevant dates in your calendar and complete your declaration promptly to avoid any delays to your payment.
More information
You can read more about the annual declaration requirements in section 12.1 of the SFI expanded offer for 2024: agreement holder’s information. There are different versions of this guidance you will need to use, depending on the start date of your agreement.
If your agreement started:
- on or before 1 August 2024, use version 1.1
- on or after 1 September 2024 but you applied by 11 March 2025, use version 1.2
If you need any assistance or have questions about the annual declaration process, please contact the Rural Payments Agency.
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