Small business rate relief

If the rateable value of your premises in the 2010 Rating List is under £18,000 and if you qualify as a small business, you may be entitled to relief.

To apply for relief please use the form below. Please read the notes below before completing the form.

Small business rate relief form

A new scheme for small businesses was introduced from 1 April 2005 to reduce the amount of tax they pay, in comparison to larger ones.

To qualify, the owner has to confirm rates are only paid for one property.

If they have more than one, as long as the second property is under £2,600 in rateable value, the ratepayer can still apply for relief on the larger one if the aggregate rateable value is under £18,000.

If the rateable value is not more than £6,000, the property will be charged using the lower, small business multiplier and will then receive a 50% reduction in the rates bill . Any other premises will be charged at the normal amount.

If the value is between £6,000 and £12,000, the lower multiplier is used and additional relief is worked out on a sliding scale reducing from 50% reduction to no reduction at all at £12,000. However, if the assessment is between £12000 and £18,000, the lower multiplier is used resulting in a saving of up to £126. Rates on all properties over £18,000 will be worked out using a higher multiplier (poundage).