You must return the £500 deposit made by or on behalf of a candidate if the candidate is found to have polled more than 5% of the total number of valid votes cast in the constituency.
You must return the deposit to the person who made it by no later than the next working day after the result of the election is declared.
If you are returning a deposit by cheque, it is treated as being returned on the day on which the cheque is posted.
Forfeited deposits
You must not return the deposit if the candidate is found to have polled equal to or less than 5% of the total number of valid votes cast.1
In this case their deposit will be forfeited. You must send any forfeited deposits to His Majesty. The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities will provide further information on this process.2