Business Rates Support and Rates based Grants
A range of rates relief and rates based grants were announced in the budget and subsequently by the Chancellor, some aimed at the most affected sectors and others based on small rates relief.
Support for businesses that pay little or no business rates
Businesses that pay no little or no rates due to small business rate relief (SBBR), rural rate relief (RRR) and tapered relief will get a one off grant of £10,000 to help meet business costs.
To be eligible the business must be in England, receive SBRR or RRR and occupy property.
Local authorities will automatically process grants when funds are distributed. Small business which do not occupy property (e.g. run a van from home) will not be able to access this grant.
Any enquiries on eligibility for, or provision of, the reliefs and grants should be directed to the relevant local authority.
Specific sector support for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses that pay business rates
Business rates holiday for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses
A business rates holiday for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses in England for the 2020 to 2021 tax year.
Businesses that received the retail discount in the 2019 to 2020 tax year will be rebilled by their local authority as soon as possible.
To be eligible the business must be in England and in retail, hospitality and/or leisure sector and occupying property that is wholly or mainly used
- as shops, restaurants, cafes, drinking establishments, cinemas and live music venues
- for assembly and leisure
- as hotels, guest & boarding premises and self-catering accommodation
- On 25th March it was announced that estate agents, letting agents and bingo halls are to be added to rates holiday: Click on link for further information https://www.gov.uk/government/…
This will apply to your next council tax bill in April 2020. However, local authorities may have to reissue your bill automatically to exclude the business rate charge. They will do this as soon as possible, contact your local authority with any queries.
You can estimate the business rate charge you will no longer have to pay this year using the business rates calculator.
Further guidance for local authorities is available in the expanded retail discount guidance.
Cash grants for retail,hospitality and leisure businesses
The Retail andHospitality Grant Scheme provides businesses in the retail, hospitality andleisure sectors with a cash grant of up to £25,000 per property.
Businesses in thesesectors with a property that has a rateable value up to £15,000 will receivethe normal £10,000 cash grant mentioned above but businesses in these sectorswith rateable value between £15,000 and £51,000 will receive a grant of£25,000.
Same eligibilitycriteria as the retail, hospitality and leisure rates holiday, your localauthority should contact you.
Torbay already has a webpage:
https://www.torbay.gov.uk/business/business-rates/business-rate-reductions/coronavirus-grants/
Other local authorities pages should be online soon.
Specific Support for nursery businesses that pay business rates
We will introduce a business rates holiday for nurseries in England for the 2020 to 2021 tax year. Nurseries will be eligible if in England and occupying properties and are
- providers on Ofsted’s Early Years Register
- wholly or mainly used for the provision of the Early Years Foundation Stage
There is no need to apply. This will apply to your next council tax bill in April 2020. However, local authorities may have to reissue your bill to exclude the business rate charge. They will do this as soon as possible.
You can estimate the business rate charge you will no longer have to pay this year using the business rates calculator.
Relaxation of planning rules
Planning rules are to be relaxed so pubs and restaurants can act as hot food takeaways during the crisis, temporary measure details to follow. Alcoholic drinks will continue to be subject to licence laws.
Please click on the Government factsheet link below giving detail on all these schemes:
Top up grant fund
A top up fund has been announced aimed at businesses who have property costs but did not qualify for small business rates relief based grants. It is a discretionary grant to be distributed by local authority.
