Appealing against your Business Rates

What can I appeal against?

The following information will help you to appeal:

• if you disagree with your rateable value
• if you disagree with the decision that you are liable to pay business rates on a particular premises
• if you disagree with how your business rates bill was worked out, such as if rate relief has not been given
• if you disagree with the date on a completion notice.

How can I appeal against my rateable value?

If you think your rateable value is wrong, you can apply to the Valuation Officer to change it.

To do this you must make a ‘proposal’ to alter the rating list. The Valuation Officer will send you a simple form to fill in and an explanatory leaflet. You do not have to use the form, but it is probably the easiest way of appealing, as appeals must be in writing and the form asks for all the information you need to give.

If your appeal is successful, the Valuation Officer will tell us. We will then change your business rates bill and adjust your payments, if necessary.

You will need to tell them

How do I appeal against a completion notice

If you have been served a completion notice on a new or altered building and you think that the building cannot reasonably be expected to be completed by the date shown on the notice, you can appeal to the Kent Valuation Tribunal.

This should be done within four weeks of the date on which the notice was served, by sending a copy of the completion notice and saying why you want to appeal.

The Tribunal will contact you to arrange a formal hearing and will send you a leaflet explaining in detail what will happen. Hearings usually last no more than a day.

A Tribunal hearing will not cost you anything, but if you choose to have a solicitor or another person to present your case, you may have to pay them.

You will need to tell them

If I am held liable to pay the Business Rates and I think this to be wrong, can I appeal?

Yes. If you think that someone else is liable then you should write to the Council’s Revenues office, saying why you should not be held responsible for paying. If we agree with you then the charges will be cancelled and a new bill will be sent to the other person.

If we disagree with you and you do not pay the bill, then your appeal will be at the Magistrates' Court when we seek to enforce payment. If the court agrees with you, we can accept the decision and cancel the charges against you, or appeal against the decision to the High Court. If the Court disagrees with you then you can accept the decision and pay the charge or appeal to the High Court.

You will need to tell them

I don’t think my business rates bill was worked out correctly

If you disagree with how your business rates bill was worked out, such as if rate relief has not been given, then you should write to the Council’s Revenues office.

You will need to tell them

How much business rates do I have to pay while my appeal is outstanding?

You should continue to pay your business rates while your appeal is outstanding. By law you must make payment on the original amount.

If your appeal is successful, as long as you have kept up your payments correctly, any overpayment will be refunded.

Where can I get advice?

Please contact - Revenues office 01843 577557 email: Business.Rates@thanet.gov.uk

Revenues Office

E-mail:

business.rates@thanet.gov.uk

Phone: 01843 577557
from 9am to 5.30pm Monday to Thursday and 9am to 5pm Friday

Fax: 01843 577532

or Visit our offices