Business rates - Information
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Business rates information
- About my bill and how to pay
- Where your money goes and refuse collection
- How to calculate your business rates charge
- Small business rates relief including details of a temporary increase in the level from 01-Oct-10 to 31-Mar-14. You can find the application form here.
- Notifying us you are moving property?
- Rate reliefs information for empty properties
- Charity / Sports Club / Not for Profit Relief
- Appeals against liability and property valuations
- Customer services, includes facts and figures on the service we provide
- get details from the 2010 Rating list & details from the 2005 Rating list
- visit www.businesslink.gov.uk for all the business rates information you need in jargon-free terms
Where your money goes
The council has no control over business rates as the amount is set down by the Government. Up until 31st March 2013, the money collected by the Council was pooled and redistributed by Central Government to councils as part of the annual formula grant settlement.
From 1st April 2013, along with all other Local Authorities, Brighton & Hove City Council will receive less Government grant but will keep about half of the Business Rates we collect locally providing a financial incentive to improve the local economy. The remainder will continue to go to Central Government for re-allocation to Local Authorities through various grants. Central Government will continue to set the amount of rates you must pay each year.
Brighton & Hove City Council is keen to support small business and the local economy as much as possible. We offer flexible payment options and have a discretionary rate relief scheme to help charities and not-for-profit organisations.
We will also allow monthly instalments to be spread over 12 months of the year, until March 2014.
A guide to our services is sent with every business rates bill. We are required to produce this information each year. You can download a copy of the 2013-14 Business Guide to Brighton & Hove Services [PDF 768kb].
Refuse collection and disposal
- the council only collects and disposes of household waste.
- Business Rates does not finance the collection or disposal of any waste generated in the course of a business.
- traders and businesses are legally required under the Environmental Protection Act (duty of care regulations) to securely store their waste and employ a licensed waste contractor to remove and dispose of their waste to an appropriate disposal point.
- failure to comply with these regulations can result in unlimited fines.
- If you require more information please see our business and charity recycling and refuse collections page or contact the council's Recycling, Refuse and Street Cleaning Department.
Calculating your business rate charge
Every business property has a rateable value (RV) on which the business rates charge is based. Each year, the Government sets a multiplier, which is the rate in the pound by which the RV is multiplied.
There are two multipliers for the 2013/14 financial year (46.2 pence and 47.1 pence). The standard multiplier for 2013/14 is 47.1. All rate payers (except charities) occupying premises with a RV below £18,000 will have their liability calculated using a lower multiplier of 46.2 pence.
If, for example, you have an RV of £10,000, and your multiplier is 46.2 pence, your base charge for the year (before any reductions) would be £4620.00 (10000 x 0.462 = 4620.00).
Empty properties and those occupied by charities will have their liability calculated using the standard multiplier of 47.1 pence.
The Valuation Office Agency has a short video explaining how we calculate your bill using the Rateable Value and multiplier.
Transitional arrangements and the 2010 revaluation
Following the 2010 revaluation, which came into effect on 1 April 2010, special transitional arrangements will phase in significant increases or decreases in your business rates bill over a maximum of five years.
The transitional arrangements mean that rates bills for businesses operating from small properties won't rise as steeply as they would do otherwise (small properties are defined as those properties with rateable values below £18,000.
The set limits on the percentage by which your rates bill can increase each year, prior to inflation.
| Year | Small property | Large property |
|---|---|---|
| 2010-11 | 5% | 12.5% |
| 2011-12 | 7.5% | 17.5% |
| 2012-13 | 10% | 20% |
| 2013-14 | 15% | 25% |
| 2014-15 | 15% | 25% |
The set limits on the percentage by which your rates bill can decrease each year, prior to inflation.
| Year | Small property | Large property |
|---|---|---|
| 2010-11 | 20% | 4.6% |
| 2011-12 | 30% | 6.7% |
| 2012-13 | 35% | 7% |
| 2013-14 | 55% | 13% |
| 2014-15 | 55% | 13% |
The transitional arrangements do not cover increases from inflation or changes in the rateable value because of changes to the property, e.g. an extension.
Any applicable transitional relief or surcharge will be shown on your bill. Multipliers for previous years
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Customer services
The Council is working hard to deliver the best possible service to you. It is important to us that you receive an efficient and effective service. Here are some facts and figures about how we are achieving this:
- performance figures – including annual collection rates and how many phone calls, letters and emails we have received from you
- month-by-month collection rates – progress for the current financial year
- Council Tax & Business Rates customer service standards - the standards we set in delivering our service to you
- Customer Service Excellence Award ~ recognition of our commitment to you
-
send us your views on any council-related service or subject
- give us your feedback on this web site
- for information on access to services for disabled people (council and non-council related services)
Charity / Sports Club / Not for Profit Relief
Charities and registered Community Amateur Sports Clubs (CASCs) are entitled to 80% relief where the property is:
-
occupied by the charity or the CASC, and is wholly or mainly used for the charitable purposes of the charity (or of that and other charities), and
-
for the purposes of the CASC (or of that and other CASCs).
We have discretion to give further relief on the remaining bill. Non-profit-making organisations can also be granted discretionary relief. Please contact us about this.
Appeals
Please note - making an appeal does not allow you to withhold payment of your instalments. You should continue to pay as normal until your appeal is resolved.
Against liability
You can make an appeal if you think that you are not responsible for paying. This could be because someone else is, or because your property is exempt. You can also appeal if you think there is a mistake on your bill.
If you want to appeal, write to: Business Rates, Brighton & Hove City Council, PO Box 2929, Brighton, BN1 1PS, saying why you disagree with what you are being charged.
Against rateable values (RVs) on business properties
The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) sets the RVs for business properties. From 1 April 2010, the rateable value of a property represents its annual open market rental value as at 1 April 2008. There is normally a revaluation every five years. However, the Government has delayed the next revaluation until 2017.
You can inspect the 2010 and 2005 lists of all rated properties on-line or at:
Eastbourne Valuation Office, St Anne's House, St Anne's Road, Eastbourne, BN21 3LG
Telephone: 03000 501 501
Email: ratingsoutheast@voa.gsi.gov.uk
You may also inspect the rating lists at the council's Brighton Customer Service Centre during normal working hours.
- Valuation Office Agency: Business Rates ~ an overview (Business Link website)
- Valuation Office Agency: Business Rates ~ frequently asked questions
- Valuation Office Agency: Business Rates ~ appeals
- The Valuation Tribunal
Private rating agents (business rates)
Be careful before entering into a contract with a rating advisor as they cannot guarantee reductions in rateable values.
Even if they are successful, this may not reduce the amount you have to pay.