The amount you pay and ways to reduce it
Business rates fact sheet
Your bill shows the rateable value that applies to your property. The amount on your bill is calculated by multiplying the rateable value (set by the valuation office agency) by the multiplier (set each year by the government), allowing for transitional relief where applicable.
Transitional arrangements limit the increases/reductions each year in bills. See explanatory notes.
Reductions available to business ratepayers These take the form of:
- small business rate relief
- unoccupied property rating
- charitable and discretionary relief
- transitional arrangements
For more details on the above see explanatory notes
Exemptions - unoccupied property which are:
- listed buildings
- properties with a rateable value less than £2,600 from 1 April 2011
- kept empty due to action by a local authority or court
- estate of deceased person
- land not being used
- warehouses / industrial exempt for up to 6 months
- prohibited by law from being occupied
- subject to bankruptcy, companies being wound up
- owned by companies in administration
- empty property owned by charities or community amateur sports clubs.
Ways to contact us about business rates
Page last updated: 08/05/2012
