Changes to your Business Rates bill in 2005

This information gives you an introduction to the changes that took place to business rates in April 2005.

 

Revaluation

Every five years the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) gives all non-domestic (business) properties new rateable values so local authorities can work out the business rates.

 

The new rateable values will broadly reflect the yearly open-market rental value of each property.

 

The purpose of the revaluation is not to change the amount of money collected in rates nationally, but to make sure that individual rateable values reflect the changes that have taken place in the property market since the last revaluation.

 

You can check your own rateable value on the Valuation Office Agency website , and get further advice on all aspects of your business rates at Business Link

 

Transitional relief

Transitional relief from business rates is now available since the revaluation in 2005. Transitional relief works by phasing-in increases and reductions in rate bills following a revaluation.

 

Rate relief for community amateur sports clubs

Registered community amateur sports clubs (CASCs) can receive 80% rate relief from 1 April 2004.

 

To qualify as a CASC, a sports club must:

• be open to the whole community;
• be run as an amateur club;
• be a non-profit-making organisation;
• aim to provide facilities for, and encourage people to take part in, eligible sport.
  

If you are a sports club which has not yet registered as a CASC and are interested in the registration process, please see http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/casc/index.htm or call HM Revenue & Customs' Sports Clubs Unit on 0131 777 4147.

 

• Download a Charity Rate relief application form (PDF)
• Apply online for Charity Rate Relief.

 

Rate relief for small businesses

The Government has introduced a new rate relief scheme to help small businesses.  Rate relief for small businesses will give properties which have rateable values of under £18,000 a percentage of relief from their business rates. Properties with rateable values of £18,000 or higher will receive no relief.

 

This relief is only available to businesses that declare that they only use one property, in England. To qualify for the relief, each business must apply to their local authority.

• Download a Small Business rate relief application form 
• Apply online for Small Business Rate Relief for claims relating to financial years 2007/8 - 2010/11.

 

For more information on any of these issues, please contact: mailto:contactus@communities.gsi.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