Small vusiness rate relief

• to qualify you must fulfil certain conditions
• to qualify from 1 April you must apply before 30 September of the following year
• for relief to continue you must apply every valuation period
• the valuation period is for a maximum of 5 years
• if your property qualifies part way through a year, relief will not be granted until the following 1 April

Eligibility criteria

To qualify for small business rate relief you must meet the following conditions:

You must occupy only one commercially rated property in England except where:

• you occupy additional commercially rated properties that each have a rateable value of less than £2,200 and
• the aggregate rateable value of the properties is less than £15,000

or you must occupy only one commercially rated property in England where the rateable value of that property is less than £15,000

What will not qualify

• ratepayers who do not meet the eligibility criteria
• if the property is empty
• if charitable relief has been granted

Basis of the scheme

• relief will only be granted on the main or sole property where the criteria is met
• properties with a rateable value of £5,000 or less will be granted 50 percent rate relief
• for properties with a rateable value over £5,000 but no more than £10,000, the relief will be reduced on a sliding scale
• rates will be calculated on the rate multiplier of 44.1p in the pound and not 44.4p in the pound
• relief will cease on the date that the ratepayer ceases to be eligible within the criteria

Buffer zone

• Properties with a rateable value of more than £10,000 and less than £15,000
• Small Business Rate Relief will not be granted
• But rates will be calculated on the rate multiplier of 44.1p in the pound and not 44.4p in the pound

How much relief will I get?

Rateable value:

• £5000 or less - 50% of rate relief
• £6,000 - 40% of rate relief
• £7,000 - 30% of rate relief
• £8,000 - 20% of rate relief

The percentage relief shown for £6,000, £7,000 and £8,000 is an approximate amount. This is due to the complex way the relief is calculated.

To apply

Apply by completing the online application form or by phone on 01752 304966.

Renewal applications

To renew your small business rate relief from 1 April, complete the online application form or phone 01752 304966 for an application form.

Changes in circumstances

Ratepayers must notify Plymouth City Council of the following changes within 4 weeks, as they may affect the relief you have received:

• any increase in the rateable value of a property occupied by the ratepayer which is not in Plymouth City Council area. This notification must be in writing
• the ratepayer taking occupation of any new property which is not mentioned in the original application for the relief. This change will require a fresh application to be submitted to Plymouth City Council

Rateable value

The rateable value is shown in the Valuation Office Agency 2005 non-domestic rating list effective from 1 April 2005. To check your rateable value visit the Valuation Office Agency website.

Commercially rated properties

All commercially rated properties will be included in the Valuation Office 2005 non-domestic rating list. To check your property is listed visit the Valuation Office Agency website.

Commencement date

Small business rate relief, including protection within the buffer zone, will commence from 1 April 2005 providing the ratepayer is in occupation of the premises, or the date of occupation if later.

Reduction in rateable value

If there is a reduction in the rateable value of the property you may now be eligible to claim small business rate relief. You must apply to Plymouth City Council within six months from the date of notification by the Valuation Office. Any relief will then be backdated to the start of the financial year.

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