The Business Rates Deferral Scheme

The Government has decided to put in place a business rates deferral scheme which will give you the option of spreading the Retail Price Index increase in your 2012-13 bill over three years, to help businesses manage their cash flow during the downturn. 

You will be able to defer payment of 3.2% of your 2012-13 bill – which is equivalent to 60% of the Retail Price Index increase - until 2013-14 and 2014-15.  You will then pay back the total amount deferred over the next two years.

If you wish to opt into the scheme, an application form is available here. 

The form simply asks for your name, the address of the property and its reference number (which can be found on your business rate bill).  Just complete those details, sign the form and return it to the Council.  You do not need to pay anyone to do this for you.

You can apply at any time until 31 March 2013 provided you have some of your bill left to pay. We would encourage you to apply early so that you see the reduction in your monthly instalments sooner. However, you will be able to defer 3.2% of the whole year’s bill regardless of when you apply. Provided that you return the application by 9 June you will see the reduction in your July instalment.  If you apply later than that date you will see the reduction reflected in your next instalment or the one after that.

Eligibility

Billing authorities are required to grant deferral to all businesses that pay rates in 2012/13 and who apply for the scheme, except:

• where the ratepayer has already paid the 2012/13 rates liability in full. This is  because the regulations implementing the deferral scheme cannot be apply retrospectively so refunds cannot be provided 
  
  
• where the ratepayer is due to pay the 2012/13 rates liability in full within 21 days of the authority receiving the application, when deferral may be granted at the billing authority's discretion. 
  
  
• where the ratepayer is in default and has lost the right to pay by instalments.

If a ratepayer who applied for the deferral scheme is found to be ineligible for the reasons mentioned above, we will write to you to advise you are not eligible and provide the reason for this determination.

Ratepayers who take up occupation during 2012/13 are eligible for deferral; the amount that can be deferred will be pro-rata to the period that they occupy the property during 2012/13.