Rate reliefs and exemptions
Small Business Rate Relief
From 1 April 2005 the Government introduced a new rate relief scheme to help small businesses.
From 1 April 2017, an eligible ratepayer will pay no rates on properties with rateable values up to £12,000, declining in percentage terms on a sliding scale until it is 0% at £15,000.
Generally, the relief is only available to ratepayers who are not entitled to another mandatory relief and occupy either:
- one property; or
- one main property and other additional properties with rateable values of less than £2,900 and a combined rateable value limit of £20,000 (The additional properties cannot qualify for this relief)
If your property has a rateable value below £51,000 your bill will be calculated by the small business multiplier as opposed to the standard multiplier.
Full details can be obtained from the Business Rates section.
What you need to do
If you already claim small business rate relief, you do not need to do anything else at this stage.
If you continue to meet the conditions for small business rate relief (which apply at the time, to the property and the ratepayer) you'll automatically continue to receive this in each new valuation period.
If you think you meet the criteria, but have not applied, you can download the small business application form.