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.
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:
- Your property's rateable value is less than £15,000 - this changed from £12,000 on 1 April 2017
- Your business only uses one property - however you may still be able to get relief if you get a second property.
If you get a second property you can keep getting any existing relief on your main property for 12 months if:
- None of your other properties have a rateable value above £2,899
- The total rateable value of all your properties is less than £20,000
We have a separate Small Business Rates form if you are not signed up to My Account.
You can Apply for Rural Rate relief [135kb] 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.
The Spring 2017 Budget announced further support for ratepayers who had increased bills as a result of the 2017 revaluation.
The new pub relief scheme entitles qualifying businesses to apply for a reduction of £1,000 off your business rates if you're a pub in England with a rateable value of less than £100,000. Please see Business Rates Pub Relief [211kb] for further information.
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.
