Business Rates

 The national non-domestic rating system was introduced in 1990, to replace locally set general rates. This was accompanied by a revaluation of all non-domestic property with further revaluations every five years.

The income from all non-domestic rates is paid into a national pool and redistributed between authorities in proportion to their adult population. This means that areas with relatively few businesses, or where property values are not as high, are not disadvantaged.

There is also business rate relief scheme that was introduced in April 2005. This can provide relief for small businesses with a rateable value of under £15,000. In some cases the relief could potentially cut a business rates bill by half.

Please see the page Business rates relief for small businesses for more details.

All businesses benefit from the services that local authorities provide. Some services are of direct benefit to business, for example, roads, police and the fire brigade. Others, such as education and housing, are of indirect benefit, but even so they provide a real benefit to business. Non-domestic rates or business rates, as they are more commonly known, are the way the owners and users of non-domestic property contribute towards the cost of providing those services.

The intention of these web pages, are to give an overview of the non-domestic rating system and to answer any questions that you may have. Please contact the billing section of the Revenues service on 01594 812532 if you have any further queries.

Email: busrates@fdean.gov.uk

You can view the 2010 - 2011 Business Rates Information here