How Is My Business Rate Calculated?

Business Rates

Business Rates or National Non Domestic Rates (NNDR) are set by central government and collected by us. From 1 April 2013 we can keep a proportion of the business rates paid locally. The money, together with revenue from council taxpayers, revenue support grantprovided by the Government and certain other sums, is used to pay for the services provided in your area.

How is my business rate calculated?

Business rates depend on the rateable value of the property in question. The rateable value is set by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA). Further information can be found on the VOA website www.gov.uk/government/organisations/valuation-office-agency. From 1 April 2010 the rateable value of a non-domestic property represents its annual open market rental value as at 1 April 2008.

A revaluation normally takes place every five years, however, the next revaluation will not take place until 2017.

Each year the Government sets the national non-domestic rate multiplier, which is multiplied by the rateable value to produce the annual rate bill for your property.

Would I qualify for rate relief?

There are a number of ways in which you could qualify for rate relief. These include:

·  Small Business Rate Relief

·  Part Occupied Relief

·  Charitable and Discretionary Relief

·  Hardship Relief

·  Retail Relief

For further information please telephone us on 01246 242490.

Do I qualify for small business rate relief?

This relief is only available to ratepayers who apply to their local authority and who occupyeither:

·  one property, or

·  one main property and other additional properties providing those additional properties have rateable values less than £2,600.

If an application for relief is granted, provided the ratepayer’s circumstances do not change, they will continue to receive relief in each new valuation period.

Certain changes in circumstances will need to be notified to the local authority by the ratepayer, these are:

·  the ratepayer taking up occupation of a property they did not occupy at the time of making their application for relief, or

·  an increase in the rateable value of a property occupied by the ratepayer in an area other than the area of the local authority which granted the relief.

How can I pay my bill?

There are a variety of ways in which you can pay your bill, including direct debit, via our website www.bolsover.gov.uk, over the telephone (01246 242205), with your debit card or in person at any of our Contact Centres.

Please refer to the ‘How to make a payment’ leaflet within the Housing and Council Tax booklet for further details.

The property is empty do I qualify for a discount?

Business Rates will not be payable for the first three months that a property is empty. This is extended to six months in the case of certain industrial properties.

After this period, rates are payable in full unless the unoccupied property rate has been reduced by the Government by order.

In most cases, the unoccupied property rate is zero for properties owned bycharities and Community Amateur Sports Clubs.

In addition, there are a number of exemptions from the empty rate. Full details on exemptions can be obtained from our website www.bolsover.gov.uk

What should I do if I am unable to pay my business rates?

You should contact us immediately on 01246 242490 so we can try and help you. It may be that you could be entitled to a reduction or can get assistance in paying your bill. Please do not leave it too late.

Our standards are

·  To process all reported change of circumstances within 10 working days.

·  To provide help and assistance when you contact us.

July 2015