Small business rate relief (SBRR)

From April 2010 the Government has removed the requirement to re-apply for Small Business Rate Relief (SBRR). To be eligible for SBRR at the time of the 2010 revaluation, businesses must meet the conditions which apply at that time.

The requirement for ratepayers to notify their billing authorities if they are no longer eligible for the relief will continue.

The conditions that apply

• You must occupy only one commercially rated property in England except where:
  • you occupy additional commercially rated properties that each have a rateable value (RV) of less than £2,599
  • the combined rateable value of the properties is less than £17,999
• You must occupy only one commercially rated property in England where the rateable value of that property is less than £17,999
• Relief will be based on the rateable value of the qualifying property and the second properties will not get any relief
• Transitional relief will be calculated first and SBRR will be applied afterwards
• If a ratepayer is in receipt of charity relief then they will receive that relief and not SBRR

RV increase above the maximum RV will disqualify the property for relief for the remainder of the year (the rateable value is shown on the Valuation Office Agency website)

The Budget announced that between 1 October 2010 and 30 September 2011, eligible ratepayers will receive small business rate relief from 100 per cent to 0 per cent for properties up to £12,000 in rateable value for that period.

To apply for Small Business Rate Relief

Please telephone the Rates Team on 01752 304966.

Changes in circumstances

Ratepayers must notify Plymouth City Council of any increase in the rateable value of a property that they occupy, which is not in the Plymouth City Council area. This must be received in writing within four weeks following the change, as this may affect the relief awarded.

Any ratepayer taking occupation of an additional property, which is not included in the original application, will be required to apply again.

Rateable value

The rateable value is shown in the Valuation Office Agency 2010 non-domestic rating. 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 and the 2010 draft non-domestic rating list, which comes into effect from 1 April 2010. To check if your property is listed visit the Valuation Office Agency website.

Changes to small business rate relief

Currently, small businesses in England are generally entitled to small business rate relief if they occupy only one property and the rateable value of that property is less than £18,000 (£25,500 in London).

All businesses meeting that criteria are eligible to have their rates calculated using the small business rates multiplier. Additionally, properties with rateable values of less than £6000 are entitled to 50% relief.

Legislation will be introduced through the Localism Bill to remove the legal requirement for eligible ratepayers to submit an application form.  Secondary legislation will also be amended to ensure that all eligible ratepayers below £18,000 (£25,500 in London) rateable value threshold, have their bills calculated using the small business rate multiplier, regardless of the number of properties that they occupy. The legislation applies to England only.

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