Business rates

Small business rate relief

Small Business Rate Relief (SBRR) allows small businesses to reduce the business rates they pay.

Applying for small business rate relief is simple – you do not need to pay for professional help. Simply complete the online form below.

Apply for Small Business Rate Relief

Go to GOV.UK: Business rates relief to find out more.

Automatic calculation from 1 April 2017

From 1 April 2017, your bill will automatically be calculated using the lower small business non-domestic rating multiplier if:

  • you occupy a property with a rateable value not greater than £50,999
  • you are not entitled to another mandatory relief
  • you are not liable for unoccupied property rates

Go to GOV.UK: find and check your business rates valuation.

You may qualify for a further reduction in your rates bill if your rateable value is less than £15,000.

Qualifying conditions

To qualify for SBRR you must show you occupy either:

  • only one property
  • one main property plus additional properties that each have a rateable value of less than £2,899, and the total rateable value of all properties is not more than £19,999 – in this case, only your main property will be entitled to relief

SBRR is protected for up to 12 months for businesses that take on an additional property over these values.

Calculation of SBRR

Eligible businesses in premises with a rateable value of less than £12,000 will be entitled to 100% relief on their rates bill.

For businesses in premises with a rateable value between £12,000 and £15,000, the relief will decrease by 1% for every £60 in rateable value up to £15,000, at which point no relief is applicable.

If you no longer qualify

If you no longer qualify, we will cancel the relief from the day you no longer qualified. For example, the rateable value of your property changes if you:

  • occupy another commercial property in England
  • get a mandatory relief such as charitable rate relief or rural rate relief
  • have an unoccupied property that qualifies for empty rate relief

Transitional rate relief

Transitional relief is when the rateable value of your property changes because of revaluation. Go to GOV.UK: transitional rate relief for more information.