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Business Rates

What is Business Rates?

Business rates, also called National Non-Domestic Rates are payable on all commercial properties. This includes shops, offices, banks, hotels, factories and power stations.

Bills are sent out each year starting 1st April and they are usually payable by the occupier of the property.

The rates payable are collected by Bassetlaw District council and then paid over to Central Government. In turn the money is given back to Councils based on a calculation by the Government.

For 2007/08 Bassetlaw District Council will pay around £40 million into the central pool annually and receives about £9.25 million back to help run the Council's services.

The Business Rates team will be pleased to help you with all your rates enquiries. Give them a call on 01909 533460 or email them at business.rates@bassetlaw.gov.uk. Our advice is free of charge, however complex your enquiry.

New Rateable Value from April 2005

New rateable values came into effect from 1st April 2005 based on property rents at 1st April 2003.

Ratepayers can inspect the list of rateable values from the Valuation Office website. A full list is also available for inspection at our One Stop Shops at Worksop, Retford and the Harworth Information Office.

To work out your Business Rates bill, we start by multiplying your rateable value by the 'multiplier' or 'poundage'. From 1st April 2005, the Government introduced the Small Business Rate Relief Scheme (SBRR). This scheme, which is further explained in the leaflet shown below, means that the Government has set two multipliers. For 2007/08 these values are 44.4p for those who do not qualify for SBRR (or do not claim it) and 44.1p for those who qualify.

Example - Based on full 2007/08 multiplier (44.4p), if your rateable value is £20,000 the calculation will give a figure of £8,880 to pay in Business Rates for the year.

In many cases, this calculation will result in your actual Business Rates payable. However, for others, there will be further calculations to go through, because of tansitional relief and other rate reliefs, again these are outlined on our web page titled 'Calculating Business Rates' and in the leaflet below, available from our Business Rates Office.

Business Rates 2007/8

Your Business Rates Explained

The 'Your Business Rates' leaflet is produced by Bassetlaw District Council, and is to help you understand how the Business Rates scheme works. It explains more about Transitional Relief and Small Business Rates Relief, and how to appeal.

Contact the Business Rates team on 01909 533460 or e-mail business.rates@bassetlaw.gov.uk to request a copy