Rate relief
Small business rate relief and changes effective
from 1 April 2010
The Government introduced the Small
Business Rate Relief (SBRR) scheme on the 1st of April 2005. It is
designed to help small businesses reduce their Business Rate
bill.
If you already receive small business rate
relief you will continue to receive it throughout the period of the
2010 revaluation without reapplying for it. If your circumstances
change, for example if you are no longer entitled to the relief as
you occupy more than one property in England, you must contact the
local taxation section immediately.
If you are not currently in receipt of
relief, but think you may be entitled, you may still apply and
relief may be backdated to run effective from 1 April 2007.
However, your application must be made no later than 30
September 2010 (please complete a small business rate relief appn
2007-2010).
If you have moved in to a property on or
after 1 April 2010 and believe you may be entitled to relief, you
will be required to complete and return an application (please
complete a small business rate relief appn 2010-2015).
As a result of the 2010 revaluation, the
current small business rate relief rateable value thresholds will
increase.
From 1 April 2010 any ratepayer who occupies a single property
within England where the rateable value (RV) is less than £18,000
will be entitled to the following relief:
| RV Range |
Relief |
| £1 -£6,000 |
Business rates calculated using the reduced non domestic
multiplier and 50% relief |
| £6,001 - £11,999 |
Business rates calculated using the reduced non domestic
multiplier and relief declining on a sliding scale of 1% for every
£120. |
| £12,000 - £17,999 |
Business rates calculated using the reduced non domestic
multiplier |
| |
|
The relief will also apply where a ratepayer
occupies a main property with an RV of less than £18,000 but has
ancillary properties with RVs of less than £2,600 each providing
that the total RV of all properties does not exceed £17,999.
In this case, the relief will only be applied to the one main
property.
Examples where you may be entitled to a reduction
a) If you occupy a main property with a
Rateable Value of £ 8,000 and also occupy a second property with a
Rateable Value of £1,000, you will be eligible to claim relief
on the main property only.
b) If you occupy a main property with a
Rateable Value of £8,000 and also occupy two more
properties, each with a Rateable Value of £1,000,
you will be eligible to claim relief on the main property
only.
Examples where you will not be entitled to a
reduction
a) If you occupy a main property with a
Rateable Value of £8,000 and also occupy a second property with a
Rateable Value of £4,000, you will not be eligible to
claim relief because your second property has a Rateable Value
greater than the £2,600 limit.
b) If you occupy a main property with a
Rateable Value of £14,000 and also occupy two more
properties, each with a Rateable Value of £2,250,
you will not be eligible to claim relief because the sum
of the Rateable Values of your properties is greater than
£18,000.
How to apply
Download, complete and return the application form to
the Business Rates Section.
Downloads
BUDGET ANNOUNCEMENT - INCREASE IN LEVEL OF SMALL BUSINESS RATE
RELIEF
The Government introduced a small business rate relief scheme to
ease the rate burden on small businesses.
From 1st October 2010, Government introduced, for one
year, a more generous level of small business rate relief.
As a result those ratepayers eligible for relief and whose
property has a rateable value below £6,001 will not have to pay any
Business Rates from 1st October for a year. If the rateable
value is between £6,001 and £12,000, the amount payable will
be reduced on a sliding scale.
There is no change if the rateable value is over
£12,000.
An announcement that this scheme will be extended to October
2012 was made in the Budget speech on 23rd March 2011, and an
information letter from the Government is available to download at
the bottom of this page.
Knowsley Council has no further information regarding this
change currently, but it will not affect your Business rates
instalments until October 2011. Please continue to pay your
instalments as detailed on your most recent bill.
If you have further enquiries you can
contact the Business Rates Section
for information / clarification telephone 0151 443
4126/4069(9.00am to 1.00pm) or email business.rates@knowsley.gov.uk
Small Business Rate Relief Changes – Budget 23 March 2011
Announcement from the
Department for Communities and Local Government (PDF).
Charity and registered community amateur sports club
relief
Charities and registered community amateur sports clubs are
entitled to 80% relief where the property is occupied by a charity
of club and is wholly or mainly used for charitable purposes or as
a registered community amateur sports club.
The local authority has discretion to give further relief on the
remaining bill.
Non-profit making organisation relief
The local authority has discretion to give relief to non-profit
making organisations. Full details can be obtained from Knowsley
MBC.
Hardship relief
The local authority has discretion to give relief in special
circumstances. Full details can be obtained from Knowsley MBC.
If you wish to talk to a member of staff, please contact the
Business Rates Office on 0151 443 4126/4069 or email business.rates@knowsley.gov.uk