The Government has set out a package of temporary, timely and targeted measures to support public services, people and businesses through this period of disruption caused by COVID-19. Details are published here.  We are awaiting further guidance from the Government on this.

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The Non-Domestic Rates, or Business Rates, collected by councils are the means by which businesses and others who occupy non-domestic property make a contribution towards the cost of local services.

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Budget Announcement November 2017

In the Spring 2017 Budget, the Chancellor announced the following three measures to help reduce the impact of business rate increases from April 2017; certain reliefs will continue for 2019/20:

Scheme 1 - relief would be made available to those ratepayers facing large increases as a result of the loss of small business rate relief, the Council has already identified ratepayers who will qualify for the Scheme and recalculated 2018/19 bills.

Scheme 2 - The new local discretionary relief scheme allows the Council to provide some support to ratepayers facing increases in their bills.  The Council identified ratepayers likely to qualify for this scheme in year 1 and 2, a copy of the Three Rivers District Council Revaluation support policy. This was approved by Policy & Resource Committee on 5 October 2017 can be found here.  Year 3 scheme to be confirmed late March 2019, and as the Council has already identified ratepayers who will qualify and 2019/20 bills have had reliefs applied.

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Check Challenge Appeal:

If you have reason to believe that your 2017 rateable value is not correct, follow the instructions provided on the site.  You will need to do the following:

• CHECK - review and confirm the facts about your property held by the VOA
• CHALLENGE – once the facts are established, explain why you believe your valuation is wrong.

An appeal on your 2017 rateable value is not possible, and may not be necessary, until you have completed CHECK and CHALLENGE.

Roles and Responsibilities

The Valuation Office Agency (VOA), an executive agency of HMRC, is responsible for assessing all rateable Values across England and Wales by using property details such as rental information.

The local Authority then uses the Rateable Value and the Business Rates Multiplier (set by Central Government) to calculate your Business Rates Bill.

What is The Rateable Value

The Rateable Value is assessed by the Valuation Office Agency, which is an Agency of HM Revenues and Customs

A property’s rateable value is an assessment of the annual rent the property would rent if it were available to let on the open market at a fixed valuation date

• Until 31 March 2017, the Rateable Values will be based on a Valuation date of 1 April 2008.
• From 1 April 2017, the Rateable Values will be based on the valuation date of 1 April 2015

If you think your rateable value is incorrect, you can find and view your property details here:  https://www.gov.uk/correct-your-business-rates

What is a Revaluation?

The VOA regularly reassesses and updates the rateable values of all business properties usually every five years. This is called a Revaluation. This is done to maintain fairness in the system by redistributing the total amount payable in business rates, reflecting changes in the property market. Revaluation does not raise extra revenue overall.

How can I find out more?

For more information on the 2017 Revaluation, rateable values, and business rates go to www.gov.uk/voa/revaluation.

You can also estimate your business rates bill, including any small business rate relief we may apply.

Valuation Office Ageny Leaflet (pdf)

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Business rates can be contacted using our Contact Us Form. In this section, there is information on:

• How to appeal against a rateable value
• Exemptions for empty or part-occupied properties
• An explanation of how Business Rates are calculated
• Who is liable for paying Business Rates
• How to apply for relief from paying Business Rates

Freedom of Information requests

The Council now publishes information about Business Rates accounts:

• Business Rates accounts in credit
• Business Rates empty commercial properties
• Business Rates current commercial properties

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Business Rates Contact information