Business Rates - Small Business Rate Relief

Small Business Relief

Small Business Relief is currently available to ratepayers who occupy either:

(a) one property, or

(b) one main property and other additional properties providing those additional properties each have a value of less than £2,200. This includes properties not in the Barnsley area.

The rateable value of the property in (a) above or the aggregate value of all properties mentioned in (b) above must be under £15,000 on 1 April.

Ratepayers satisfying these conditions will have the bill for their single or main property calculated using the lower small business multiplier rather than the higher multiplier which is applied to other businesses.

Qualifying ratepayers will receive a percentage reduction in the rates bill on their single or main property with a rateable value of up to £10,000, based on a sliding scale. The scale of relief declines from a maximum of 50% relief, which is applicable to properties where the rateable value is not more than £5,000, to 0%, where the rateable value is £10,000.

Although the sliding scale does not apply to ratepayers occupying properties with a rateable value of more than £10,000, but below £15,000, they will be entitled to a reduced charge based on the lower small business multiplier.

Where an application for Small Business Relief has been granted the resulting relief will continue to be allowed in future years, until further notice, unless there has been a change in circumstances which must be notified to the Council. The changes which must be notified are:

(a) where the ratepayer takes up occupation of a property they did not occupy at the time the application for relief was made.

(b) where there has been an increase in the rateable value of a property occupied by the ratepayer which is not in the Barnsley area.

Who is entitled?

Qualifying ratepayers occupying a single property with a rateable value of less than £15,000 or one main property and additional properties, providing those additional properties each have a rateable value of less than £2,200 (and do not in total exceed the threshhold of £14,999).

Where a ratepayer occupies two or more properties, relief will only be granted on the property with the higher rateable value.

How do you apply?

Ratepayers are advised to contact the Council to apply for relief rather than employ an agent, who may charge a substantial commission for obtaining a reduction in the rates charge.  

Written applications should be made by completing an Application for Small Business Relief and returning it to the Rates Office or any local Barnsley Connects Office.

Ratepayers granted small business relief are now no longer required to re-apply for relief each year. To continue to be eligible for relief beyond 1 April 2010 businesses must, however, continue to meet the conditions that apply at the time. Any changes in circumstances that result in a business no longer meeting these conditions must be notified to the Council immediately. 

More Information

As part of the 2010 property revaluation new thresholds for small business relief will come into force from 1 April 2010. The threshold for receiving 50% entitlement will increase to £6,000 (from £5,000) and the threshold for receiving reduced relief, on a sliding scale, will increase to £12,000 (from £10,000).The reduced small rates multiplier will apply to qualifying properties with rateable values between £12,000 and £17,999.

The threshold for disregarding additional properties will increase to £2,599.   

Enquiries

For other information including:-

• Contact details for enquiries and application forms
• Viewing your account online
• methods of payment

see Business Rates -Enquiries

Please quote your account number when making an enquiry

How you can help

Ratepayers can help by ensuring that all the information requested on the application form is provided. An application will not be considered without this information.

If circumstances do change then you should notify the Rates Office as soon as possible.

 Other useful websites

 

Last modified on 20/10/2009