Business rates - reductions, exemptions and discounts

Some businesses may be eligible for reductions in business rates.

Some businesses may be eligible for reductions in business rates.

• Small business rates relief

  A relief scheme for small businesses based on certain criteria.

• Charity and community amateur sports club relief

  A relief scheme for registered charities and community amateur sports clubs.

• Rate relief for businesses in rural areas

  A relief scheme for certain properties within a rural settlement that meet certain criteria.

• Hardship relief

  The local authority has discretion to give hardship relief in specific circumstances.

• Discretionary rate relief - not for profit organisations

  Billing authorities can award relief of up to 100% to non-profitmaking bodies.

• Empty, unoccupied properties

  Business rates will not be payable in the first three months that a property is empty. This is extended to six months in the case of certain industrial properties.

• Part occupied properties

  It is at the discretion of a local authority to apply a section 44a reduction.

This page was last updated: 10 May 2017