Doncaster Council

Reduce your Business Rates bill by up to 50%

Small Business Rates Relief came in to effect on 1st April 2005. All qualifying businesses will have their Business Rates calculated using the Small Business Rate Multiplier. 

The scheme is funded through a supplement on the Business Rate bills of those businesses not eligible for relief and this supplement is built in to the standard multiplier. (The supplement for 2007/2008 is £0.003).

Criteria for relief
Small Business Rates Relief is available to ratepayers who occupy either: 

• One property in England with a rateable value of less than £15,000 or
• One main property and other additional properties in England providing those additional properties have rateable values less than £2,200 and the total value of all the properties that are occupied remains under the appropriate threshold (i.e. £15,000 outside London).

In addition to this:

• The rateable value as shown in the Non Domestic Rating List on the 1st April of the chargeable year must be under £15,000 to qualify for relief that year
• An application must be made within 6 months of the end of the financial year to which it relates (i.e. by 30th September of the following year) or within six months of a change to the Non Domestic Rating List whichever is the later
• From 1st April 2007 ratepayers only need to submit one application for relief during the life of the current rating list unless there is a change in circumstances.
• The application must be in writing and signed by the ratepayer or a person authorised to sign on behalf of the ratepayer such as a company director. 

Applications for 2007/2008
The closing date for applications in respect of the financial year 2007/2008 is 30th September 2008.  
NB: If there is a change to the rating list applications must be made within six months of the date of this change.

Amount of Relief
Relief is available at 50% for ratepayers with a rateable value of up to £5000. This declines in percentage terms on a sliding scale until it is 0% at £10,000. Approximately 1% of relief is lost for every £100 over £5000.

Properties with rateable values from £10,000 to £14,999 who meet the criteria will have their Business Rates calculated using the lower multiplier.

An application form for the relief can be accessed below. Please ensure you complete the correct form as the Legislation governing small business rates relief changed for the 2007/08 year and we are unable to accept the wrong form.

• Small Business Rates Relief Application Form 2006-07
• Small Business Rates Relief Application Form 2007-08 Onwards