Business rates
Business Rates are the taxes paid on business properties. You can use our online form to register a new business. We have a separate registration form if you are not signed up to My Account.
Can I receive my Business Rates bill by email?
If you sign up to eBilling, your Business Rates bill will be sent to you by email rather than post, with the following benefits:
- it is easier
- you will receive your annual bill as soon as it is available
- if your circumstances change, you will get your amended bill as soon as it is available
- it saves paper, so is environmentally friendly
- it will help reduce our costs, which in turn will help protect your community's services
- it is free to use
Please read our 
Business Rates Information [205kb] document and then sign up to eBilling.
Important Note
The Chancellor in the Spring Budget of 8 March 2017 announced further support for ratepayers who had increased bills as a result of the 2017 revaluation. This additional support is not reflected in the above explanatory notes.
Whilst we still await further clarification for this additional support the outline of the changes are as follows:
- Support to provide up to £1000 discount for eligible public houses to reduce their bill for 2017/18.
- Limiting the increase for those ratepayers who, as a result of increased rateable values at the revaluation, will lose some or all of their Small Business Rate Relief or Rural Rate Relief.
- A discretionary support fund available to support businesses over the next four years.
For further information please go to Spring Budget 2017.
Business Rates Revaluation 2017
On 30 September 2016, the Valuation Office Agency published its draft rateable values online for the 2017 rating list. To view your draft rateable value go to https://www.gov.uk/correct-your-business-rates.
1 | What are business rates? | Business rates is a local tax that is paid by the occupiers of all non-domestic /business property, in the same way that council tax is a tax on domestic property. Business rates are charged on most business properties such as shops, offices, pubs, warehouses and factories. However, the property doesn't have to be used for a business - if it is used for purposes which are not domestic it is likely to be rateable. We will send you a business rates bill each year. |
2 | Roles and responsibilities? | The VOA sets the rateable value of business premises by using property details such as rental information. We use the rateable value and the business rates multiplier (set by central government) to calculate your business rates bill. |
3 | What is the Rateable Value? | The rateable value is assessed by the Valuation Office Agency, which is an agency of HM Revenue and Customs. A property's rateable value is an assessment of the annual rent the property would rent for if it were available to let on the open market at a fixed valuation date.
If you think your rateable value is incorrect, you can appeal here: |
4 | What is a revaluation?
| The VOA regularly reassess and update the rateable values of all business properties usually every five years. This is called a Revaluation. This is done to maintain fairness in the system by redistributing the total amount payable in business rates, reflecting changes in the property market. Revaluation does not raise extra revenue overall. |
5 | How can I find out more? | For more information on the 2017 Revaluation, rateable values and business rates visit https://www.gov.uk/introduction-to-business-rates/revaluation. You can also estimate your business rates bill, including any small business rate relief the local council may apply. |
How much will I have to pay?
Every business property has a rateable value set by the Valuation Office Agency. The value reflects the annual rent the property would achieve on the open market at a set date.
A revaluation or rateable values has now been completed and the new rateable values will apply from 1 April 2017. The revaluation of rateable values reflects changes in the property market since 2008.
Every year the Government sets the multiplier - or the percentage of the rateable value you have to pay in tax. For the financial year commencing 1 April 2017, this is 0.466p for properties with a rateable value of up to £50,999 and 0.479p for properties valued at £51,000 or above.
So, if your property has a rateable value of £10,000 you will pay 10,000 x 0.466p (£4,660) in rates. For a £51,000 property you would pay 51,000 x 0.479p (£24,429).
You can find the rateable value of your business at the Valuation Office Agency (VAO) website.
How can I pay my Business Rates?
You can sign up online to pay your Business Rates by Direct Debit. It is best to do this via My Account through Open Access. However, if you do not have these accounts, you can complete this Direct Debit application/amend payment form.
Alternatively:
- Pay online
- Pay at any Post Office or PayPoint
Would you like free business debt advice? Visit the Business Debtline website for free advice and resources to help you deal with your business finances and business debts.
Can I reduce what I pay in Business Rates?
You can apply for small business rates relief if you only use one property and its rateable value is less than £12,000. From 1 April 2017 the threshold has changed to £15,000.
You can also apply for small business rate relief if you use more than one property and the rateable value of each of your other properties is less than £2,900. We have a separate Small Business Rates form if you are not signed up to My Account.
You can apply for rural rate relief [252kb] if your business is in a rural area with a population below 3,000 and is the only village shop or post office with a rateable value of up to £8,500 or the only public house or petrol station with a rateable value of up to £12,500.
Important Note
The Chancellor in the Spring Budget of 8 March 2017 announced further support for ratepayers who had increased bills as a result of the 2017 revaluation. This additional support is not reflected in the above explanatory notes.
Whilst we still await further clarification for this additional support the outline of the changes are as follows:
- Support to provide up to £1000 discount for eligible public houses to reduce their bill for 2017/18.
- Limiting the increase for those ratepayers who, as a result of increased rateable values at the revaluation, will lose some or all of their Small Business Rate Relief or Rural Rate Relief.
- A discretionary support fund available to support businesses over the next four years.
For further information please go to Spring Budget 2017
The GOV.UK website also has useful information on business rates and business rates reliefs.
Where can I find information on the Business Improvement District levy?
What happens if I don't pay my Business Rates?
If you miss a payment or pay late, we will send you a reminder giving you seven days to pay. If you don't pay the reminder on time, you will be sent a cancellation notice. If you pay, then fall behind again, you will be sent a cancellation notice.
A cancellation notice means that you have lost the right to pay your Business Rates in instalments and you will have to pay the full outstanding balance within seven days.
If you cannot pay the balance in full, please contact our Customer Services immediately.
If you fail to pay a cancellation notice, we will issue a summons notice for you to appear in the Magistrates Court. This means you will have to pay any summons costs incurred.
If you don't pay the summons balance in full, the Magistrates Court will issue a Liability Order against you. We will then be able take further recovery which could involve the use of enforcement agents (we use Rundles, Rossendales bailiffs and Jacobs), a bankruptcy order or even imprisonment to recover the money. If you contact us after you have been summonsed, we may be able to come to an arrangement.
