Business rates relief for small businesses
Business rates forms and leaflets
Small business rate relief
You can claim small business rate relief if you are a business with a rateable value of below £15,000. Download the Small Business Rates relief form.
The relief is available upon application and is granted to businesses who occupy one assessment of below £15,000 or whose business occupy other properties where the rateable value of these properties is under £2,900. The total of all properties must be below £20,000.
Generally, if the sole or main property is shown on the rating list with a rateable value that does not exceed £15,000, the ratepayer will receive a percentage reduction in their rates bill up to a maximum of 100%. For a property with a rateable value of not more than £12,000, the ratepayer will receive 100% reduction in their rate bill.
All assessments below £51,000 will be charged the lower rate poundage of 48p (for 2018/19).
Retail properties rate relief
Retail properties with a rateable value of less than £51,000 in each of the years 2019-20 and 2020-2021 can claim retail property rate relief. The value of relief should be one third of the bill, and must be applied after mandatory reliefs and other discretionary reliefs.
Unoccupied properties
If your property has rateable value of less than £2,900 you will be exempt from paying rates, if it is empty or unoccupied.
If your property is a "listed" building, you will also be exempt from paying rates if it is empty and unoccupied.
Other non-domestic properties are exempt for the first three months if they are empty and unoccupied. After the initial three-month exemption no further exemption or reduction is applicable and business rates will be charged at 100%.
Certain types of property e.g. factories, stores and warehouses, will be exempt for the first six months that they are empty and unoccupied before being charged business rates at 100%.
A change in ownership or tenancy will not affect the entitlement to an exemption. For example, if someone purchases or leases a property that has already been unoccupied for over six months, a new exemption period can't be applied.
Rate relief for charities:
Charities are entitled to an 80% reduction in their bills. The council has this discretion to reduce the bill further by awarding a further 20% discretionary rate relief. In addition, the council has the discretion to grant relief to some other types of non-profit making bodies.
To qualify for this you will need to send your last three years of accounts and download an application form. An award will be made for a single year only and will have to make a new application each year.
Rural rate relief:
If your business property is in a designated rural area, where the population is less than 3,000, you may be able to claim rural rate relief. Application forms can be requested by emailing us.
Hardship relief:
This discretionary relief can be granted by the council if you are experiencing hardship and your business is considered to be important to the local community. There are no specific criteria for entitlement and all applications are considered individually.
Rate relief for community amateur sports clubs (CASC):
CASCs can receive 80% rate relief. To qualify as a CASC, a sports club must:
- Be open to the whole community
- Be run as an amateur club
- Be a non profit making organisation
- Aim to provide facilities for, and encourage people to part in, eligible sport
The council has the discretion to reduce the bill further by awarding a further 20% discretionary rate relief. To apply for this you will need to send your last three years of accounts and download an application form. An award will be made for a single year and you will have to make a new application each year.
You can register as a CASC or telephone the Inland Revenue Sports Club Unit on 01131 777 4147.
