The Government has introduced a new scheme to help small businesses in England. The relief is in two parts: a discount and/or a reduced Business Rate multiplier. Help is available if the rateable value of your property(s) is under £10,000 for discounts and/or under £15,000 for the reduced multiplier. The relief can only be given on properties that you occupy in England and it does not apply to unoccupied properties.
Discounts
You will get a discount on your main property if you occupy:
- Only one business property in England with a rateable value of less than £10,000, or
- One main business property, with a rateable value of less than £10,000 and other additional properties - providing the additional properties each have a rateable value of less than £2,200 and the combined rateable value of all properties is under £15,000.
You will get a discount on all of the properties you occupy if the rateable value of each of them is under £2,200 and their total rateable value is under £15,000.
The discount will be 50% if the rateable value of your property(s) is £5,000 or under and will reduce in percentage terms on a sliding scale until it is 0% at £10,000.
Reduced multiplier
- If you occupy only one main business property with a rateable value of less than £15,000 the multiplier will be at the reduced rate if 41.5p in the pound as opposed to the 'standard' rate of 42.2p.
- The reduced multiplier will apply to your main business property only, where you also occupy additional properties - each having a rateable value of less than £2,200 and the total rateable value of all the properties is under £15,000.
- If you occupy more than one property, each having a rateable value of less than £2,200 and their total rateable value does not exceed £15,000 the reduced multiplier of 41.5p and discount will apply to all of them.
The property you wish to claim Small Business Rate Relief for must exist in the Rating List continuously from 1st April of the year being claimed for.
If you wish to make an application, please use the 
Small Business Relief application form. Please print a copy, complete it and return it to:
The Revenue Manager
Follaton House
Plymouth Road
Totnes
TQ9 5NE
Alternatively if you would like any further advice or information, please call us on 01803 861234 where someone will only be too pleased to help you.
