Non-domestic rates, or business rates, collected by local authorities are the way that those who occupy non-domestic property contribute towards the cost of local services.

Except in the City of London where special arrangements apply, the rates are pooled by central government and redistributed to local authorities according to the number of people living in the area. The money, together with revenue from council tax, revenue support grant provided by the Government and certain other sums, is used to pay for council services.

Important - Business Rates Referral

The Government announced on 31 March 09 that it will bring forward regulations to enable businesses to defer payment of 60% of the increase in their 2009-10 business rate bills until 2010-11 and 2011-12.  Businesses must keep paying their legally established liability as set out on their current bills. Once the regulations are in place (likely to be end of July) local authorities will write to rate payers offering them the option to defer part of their increase. Any new costs associated with this change will be funded by the Government. The change will not affect local authority formula grant allocations.

In April 09 we sent out a business rate fact sheet (issued by the Government) to all City businesses.

 Click here to download a copy of this fact sheet [683kb] or contact our business rates team on (0115) 9154819.

Information on valuation issues

Here you will find information on Rateable Values, appeals and the rating multiplier.

Individual Accounts

Here you will find information about who is responsible for paying Business Rates and paying by instalments.

Exemptions and Reliefs

Here you will find information on exemptions and reliefs that could reduce your rate bill.

Changes from 1st April 2008

There have been some major changes affecting Empty Properties.

Business Improvement District (BID) Levy

Some ratepayers may be required to pay a BID levy in addition to the Business Rates.

For more detailed information, a useful government funded website has been set up to give advice and covers a wide range of issue concerning Business Rates.  Click here to visit the Business Link website.