On this page: Information about business rate relief for small businesses; including the eligibility criteria.
About Small Business Rate Relief
Entitlement to Small Business Rates Relief is automatic, you do not need to complete an application form. The council will calculate your entitlement and this will appear on your Business Rates bill.
Eligibility Criteria for Relief
If you are not entitled to another mandatory rate relief or are liable for unoccupied property rates and occupy a property with a rateable value, which does not exceed £17,999 you will have your Business Rates Bill calculated using the lower small business rates multiplier instead of the standard non-domestic multiplier.
The Small Business Multiplier for 2012/13 is 45.0p and the Standard Non-Domestic Multiplier for 2012/13 is 45.8p
In addition if your sole or main property is shown in the rating list with a rateable value which does not exceed £12,000, you will receive a percentage reduction in your rates bill for this property. If the rateable value of the property does not exceed £6,000 a maximum relief of 50% will apply.
Provision has been made to temporarily increase the percentage of Small Business Rates Relief up to a maximum of 100% during 2012/13.
This percentage reduction is only available if you who occupy either:
(a) One property, or
(b) One main property and other additional properties, providing those additional properties each have a rateable value which does not exceed £2,599
The rateable value of the property mentioned in (a) or the aggregate rateable value of all the properties mentioned in (b), must not exceed £17,999. If the rateable value or aggregate rateable value increases above this amount, relief will stop from the date of the increase.
Change in Circumstances
If you are currently receiving Small Business Rates Relief and your business circumstances change you will need to advise the Business Rates Section:
a) If you open new business premises anywhere in England, or
b) Have an increase in the rateable value of any property you currently occupy
Further Information
If you believe you may be entitled to Small Business Rates Relief or would like further information, please go to the Business Rates Contact page.