Business Rates - Reductions and Relief

Certain types of business property qualify for rate relief. Some types of relief are prescribed by Government (mandatory), and some are awarded by the Local Authority (discretionary).

Please also see Unoccupied & Partly Occupied Property and Small Business Rate Relief

Transitional relief

After each revaluation there is a period of transition. No bill is allowed to increase or decrease by more than a set percentage. Any property with a large increase or decrease in its rateable value will therefore come under the transitional relief scheme, which has the effect of phasing the valuation in over a period of time. If transitional relief applies to your rates bill, it will be applied automatically.

Charity Relief

If your property is used wholly or mainly for charitable purposes, you are automatically entitled to an 80% reduction of your bill (mandatory relief), though you will need to apply to the Council to make sure you receive it. In addition, the Council may award discretionary rate relief for all or part of the remaining 20% of the bill (discretionary relief). If the property is a charity shop, the property must be wholly or mainly used for the sale of goods donated to the charity and the proceeds must be applied to the purposes of the charity.

If your organisation is not a charity but is another type of non-profit making organisation, you are not automatically entitled to relief, but the Council may award discretionary rate relief for all or part of the bill. To qualify, the organisation must be charitable, religious, or concerned with education, social welfare, science, literature or the fine arts, or the property must be used wholly or mainly for the purpose of recreation. If your business property is in a designated rural area, you may be able to claim rural rate relief. Application forms can be requested on-line.

Rural Rate Relief

If your business is in a rural village with a population below 3000, and it is one of the following types of business:
- The only village general store or post office, and the rateable value of the property is £7000 or below.

- A food shop with a rateable value of £7000 or below (Restaurants & take-away premises are not included).

- The only village pub, or the only village petrol station with a rateable value of £10,500 or below.

The above premises are entitled to a 50% reduction in the Business Rates bill (mandatory relief), or more if the Council awards discretionary rate relief for all or part of the remaining 50% (discretionary relief).

If you own a business in a qualifying rural village with a rateable value of up to £14,000, the Council may decide to award up to 100% (discretionary) rate relief, as long as your business is of benefit to the community.

Hardship Relief

If you are suffering severe hardship and cannot pay your Business Rates bill the Council may decide to award up to 100% (discretionary) rate relief. The Council will only do this in extreme cases of hardship and for businesses which are particularly important to the local community.

Who pays for Rate Relief?

The Government meets all of the cost of mandatory rate relief, and part of the cost of discretionary relief. The Council has to be aware of the local Council Tax payers will have to meet some of the cost of any discretionary rate relief awarded. The financial implications of granting relief are shown below:-

Type of Relief, Maximum Relief, Cost to Government, Cost to Council.

How to Claim

You can claim rate relief by writing to, or telephoning, the Business Rates section.

For Further information -

Contact
Email revenues@staffordbc.gov.uk
Phone 01785 619282

Where is it in the Council?

Service Finance and Revenue Services
Section Business Rates