Why do you pay Business Rates and what is the money used for?

Business Rates or Non-Domestic Rates, as they are sometimes known, are a tax payable for all occupied and some unoccupied business premises. If your property has a business part and a domestic part, e.g. if you run a Public House, you will pay Business Rates on the business premises and Council Tax on your living accommodation.

Business Rates are payable to the Council who collect them on behalf of the Government. The Business rates collected by the Council are paid into a Central Government pool and redistributed to local authorities throughout the country.

Your final Business Rates bill is worked out by multiplying the rateable value of the property by the multiplier or 'poundage' which the Government sets from 1 April each year, for the whole of England, inline - but not exceeding - the current rate of inflation. (Your rent is multiplied by the government figure, which is approximately 0.45).

Example

If your rent is £10,000 per annum, this is multiplied by 0.45 - so you would pay us £4,500. Should you then qualify for our small business rate, this can reduce your bill further, by up to 50%. Therefore, your £4,500 bill could now become £2,250 for the year, making the Stroud district a very good place to 'set-up shop'!

Each non-domestic property within the Stroud district has a 'rateable value'. In basic terms, this means that a business that operates within 300,000 sq ft would be required to contribute more than a business with only 500 sq ft. Officers from the Valuation Office Agency (VOA), an Agency of the Inland Revenue, decide exactly how much a business is 'worth' and decides the rateable value of that property on our behalf. This information is then provided on their website www.voa.gov.uk. They are also available at:

Valuation Office Agency
Inland Revenue
Ley Court
Barnett Way
Gloucester
GL4 7RT

Telephone: 03000 501 501
Email: londoncentralgroup.vo@voa.gsi.gov.uk

For ease of use, the rateable value of your commercial property is shown on your Business Rates bill. This can either be paid online on by post. You also have the right to appeal if you feel that the value has been misjudged - contact www.voa.gov.uk or your local valuation office for further guidance of the procedure.

The rateable value of each business property is used as the basis for the calculation of the business rates payable for that property.

Small businesses are classed as having a maximum rateable value of £15,000. If you believe you qualify for a discount please complete and return the business rate relief form below.

• Small Business Rate Relief Application Form (PDF 104 KB)

Charities

Charities are entitled to an 80% relief from rates on any non-domestic property, but we advise that you talk to an advisor from our Business Rates team around this issue. (We must point out that as well as being occupied by a Charity, the property must be in use for charitable purposes to qualify for the 80% relief).

Empty Properties

If you have an EMPTY commercial property you need to be aware of the changes to void rates charges. From 1 April 2011 empty properties with a Rateable Value of more than £2,599 are liable to pay rates after an initial exemption period. The exemption period is a maximum of six months for industrial properties and three months for commercial ones. Void rates is charged at 100% of the full charge.

Properties that have a Rateable Value less than £2,600 are exempt from void rates whilst they remain empty and unoccupied. This is an indefinite exemption.

Some classes of property are still exempt while empty irrespective of their Rateable Value. I.e. Listed Buildings, unoccupied land (with no buildings), empty property in the hands of receivers/administrators and occupied prohibited by law.

Direct Debit

You can pay on either the 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd or 28th of the month.

• Download a Business Rates Direct Debit Form (PDF 1,902 KB)
• Set up a Direct Debit Online (In order to set up your Direct Debit Instruction on-line you will need to provide your Bank or Building Society name and account number, sort code and branch address. Your cheque book contains all the bank details that you require).

Other Methods of Paying

If you do not choose to pay by direct debit, payment by cash, cheque or standing orders must be made by the 1st of each month.

You can pay online, over the telephone 01453 754 865 or in person at any of our offices. Please do not send cash through the post.

Business Link provide the information, advice and support needed to start, run and grow a business. The service has evolved to become the primary route to support for businesses, through three main elements;

• Information - a supply of generic, publicly available information to help businesses with common processes, problems and questions. For example, business guides are available on a range of subjects such as marketing and workshops are run on topics such as beating the recession, starting up a business, understanding finance – and many more.
• Diagnostic - an analysis of an individual business to identify specific areas that require specialist support. This can be carried out by a business going online to use simple, self diagnostic tools, through to face-to-face meetings with a Business Link advisor.
• Brokerage – once there is a good understanding of a business, Business Link advisors can signpost them to a choice of support providers who can help meet specific needs. These providers can be in either the public or private sectors.

Business Link are also the main gateway to access publicly funded business support schemes through the Solutions for Business product portfolio.

For further information please visit the local Business Link website www.businesslinksw.co.uk or ring 0845 600 9966

The Federation of Small Businesses is the UK 's largest campaigning pressure group promoting and protecting the interests of the self-employed and owners of small firms. Non-profit making and non-party political the FSB was formed in 1974 and now has 215,000 members across 33 regions and 230 branches.

For further information please visit www.fsb.org.uk

At the local level the Stroud branch of the FSB is very active under the chairmanship of Dave Middlemiss and is promoting a series of events, held at Stroud College, to support local business. Email: dave@ppdsolutions.co.uk for further information.

The Manufacturing Advisory Service delivers a service to all manufacturing businesses but with a specific focus on:

• driving business growth through strategic and technical support for SMEs developing Advanced Manufacturing capabilities and creating high value jobs;
• enabling business improvement with manufacturers operating in global supply chains; and
• linking SMEs with the Apprenticeship programme delivering a minimum of 1,250 engineering and manufacturing apprenticeships annually.

Launched in 2002 the service nationally has worked with thousands of companies and now plays a vital role supporting UK manufacturers in an increasingly competitive economy.

MAS offers a Helpdesk and Research service, free Manufacturing Review and subsidised consultancy services for SME's.

For further information on MAS please visit: www.mymas.org

The National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) supports, funds and co-ordinates the delivery of apprenticeships throughout the UK . The NAS aims to drive forward the Government's ambition for apprenticeships, bringing about significant growth in the number of employers offering apprenticeships, increasing the number of apprenticeship opportunities. The service has been designed to provide a dedicated, responsive service for both employers and learners.

Apprenticeships bring considerable value to organisations, employers, individuals and the economy. Businesses across the country are now increasingly realising the enormous benefits that Apprenticeships create, not only in terms of a highly skilled workforce but also by boosting productivity and staff retention.

For further information on the business benefits of apprenticeships, the types of apprenticeships, funding available and employer case studies please visit www.apprenticeships.org.uk/

Business Coaching for Growth is a new service dedicated to helping companies realise an ambition to double in three years. A partnership between four leading business growth specialists and government, the programme specialises in delivering tailor-made growth support packages, including matching expert business coaches, for companies determined to realise controlled and accelerated growth.

Eligible companies will be allocated an expert business coach with a track record in creating fast and sustained growth and in helping businesses break through the barriers that are holding them back.

The coach's advice will be relevant, practical and achievable, with a mix of 1-to-1 coaching, workshops and masterclasses. They will help tackle issues that directly affect your business, be they finance, innovation, marketing, leadership and management.

For further information and to apply please visit www.businessgrowth.uk.com

There are a number of useful business networking groups and forums across the district:

Vale and Valleys Business Partnership
Chair: Steve Powell
Email: stevep@valeandvalleys.org
www.valeandvalleys.com

Federation of Small Businesses - Stroud Branch
Chair: Dave Middlemiss
Tel: 01453 758475
Email: dave@ppdsolutions.co.uk
www.fsb.org.uk

Stroud Chamber of Trade
Chair: Carole Garfield
Tel: 07776 144033
Email: info@stroudcct.org

Nailsworth & District Chamber of Trade and Commerce
Chair: Peter Blackwell
Tel: 01453 835222
E-mail: peteboogie@hotmail.com
www.nailsworthchamberoftrade.co.uk

Wotton-under-Edge Chamber of Trade
Vice President: Jacqui Moore
Tel: 01453 845511
E-mail: secretary@wotton.biz
www.wotton.biz

Vale Business Forum
Chair: Shirley Hill
Tel: 01453 549208
Email: shirley@act2.demon.co.uk
www.valebusinessforum.org.uk

Painswick Matters
Contact: Rob Lewis
Tel: 01452 810910
E-mail: lewisbob@btconnect.com
www.painswickmatters.co.uk

Stroud District Business Club
Chair: Mark Stallard
Tel: 01453 827899
Email: admin@stroudbusinessclub.org.uk
www.stroudbusinessclub.org.uk

Gloucestershire Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Director: Suzanne Hall-Gibbins
Tel 01242 308030
Email: info@gloschamber.co.uk
www.gloschamber.co.uk