BUSINESS RATES

Non Domestic Rates or Business Rates is a tax on all business and non-domestic properties.
A company or a person who occupies all or part of a non-domestic property is liable to pay Business Rates on this property.
The money collected is paid into a central pool and the Government then gives each Council a share of this money. This money is then used to help to pay for the service that the Council provides.


2010 REVALUATION

Every 5 years all non-domestic properties are subject to a revaluation. The current rating list is based on the 2010 revaluation. Transitional arrangements are in place during this 5-year period so that the effects of any large increase or decrease in Business Rates are phased in.
Transitional arrangements are applied automatically and are shown on the front of the bill.
More information on the 2010 Revaluation can be found at www.voa.gov.uk
The Valuation Office Agency’s website allows you to:
  • Look up the rateable value of your property
  • View your summary valuation
  • Make an appeal against the rating list entry of your property

2009/10 DEFERRAL SCHEME

The right to apply for deferral has now ended. For those ratepayers who applied for this scheme, the deferred amount will be collected in 2010/11 and 2011/12 will be included in the bills for each of those years respectively.


SMALL BUSINESS RATE RELIEF

In 2005 the government introduced a new relief, to help small businesses.
From 1st April 2010 eligible hereditaments with a rateable value of less than £6,000 will get 50% rate relief. This will decrease on a sliding scale of 1% for every additional £120 of rateable value up to £12,000 where relief will be nil.
The hereditament must be within the thresholds above.
The relief is only available to ratepayers with either:
One property; or
One main property where the ratepayer has other additional properties providing those additional properties have rateable values which do not exceed £2,599 and the total value of all properties remains under £17,999. The relief will only be applied to the main property.
The charge on the additional hereditaments (under £2,600) will be based on the higher multiplier.
Hereditaments in the buffer zone (RV between £12,000 and £17,999) must apply for the relief in order that the bill be calculated using the Small Business rating multiplier. The same eligibility criteria applies.