Business Rates
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Do You Need Help with your Non-Domestic (Business) Rates?
You could be entitled to a Business Rate Relief
If you do not already receive a Business Rate Relief (which would be shown on your bill) there are a number of reliefs available including Small Business Rate Relief, Rural Rate Relief, Charitable Relief, Registered Community Amateur Sports Clubs relief, empty property relief, partly occupied property relief, non-profit making organisation relief and hardship relief.
Your Rateable Value could be reduced
The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) (an agency of the Inland Revenue) is responsible for setting the Rateable Values of Non-Domestic premises. The local authority then issues a bill based on that Rateable Value and the multiplier set by Central Government. Ratepayers can appeal direct to the Valuation Office Agency against the Rateable Value of the premises if they believe it to be too high. In the meantime the local Council is obliged by law to collect the Business Rates outstanding notwithstanding any appeal that may be made, until such time as the VOA instruct the Council to amend the Rateable Value. The local VOA is in Leicester and can be contacted on 0116- 2800200. The above hyperlink gives information about the valuation of premises for Business Rate purposes and details on how to appeal against your Rateable Value.
What can I do if I have problems paying the Business Rates?
If you are unable to make payment in accordance with your Non-Domestic Rates Demand Notice the Business Rates team can provide advice and in some cases may be able to make a payment arrangement to clear any outstanding charges. It should be emphasised that you should contact the Council as soon as possible if you get into difficulties with payments, as leaving it will only result in recovery action being taken to recover the outstanding charges for which you may incur further costs.
Please contact the Business Rates team if you have any queries on 01858-828282
Alastair Darling's announcement on 31st March 2009
The Chancellor of the Exchequer announced that for the 2009/10 financial year businesses may be able to defer part of their 2009/10 increase in rates to future years. Full details are not expected to be announced before the legislation is in place which may be towards the end of July 2009. In the meantime the Council is obliged by law to collect the Business Rates in accordance with the bills that have already been issued. When details are finalised local Council's will be contacting businesses to inform them as to how the scheme will work. Details of the Chancellor's announcement are available via the Department for Communities and Local Government website.Rate this page
