Business Rates, or National Non-Domestic Rates, are the means by which businesses and others who occupy non-domestic property make a contribution towards the cost of local services, for example, the police and fire services. Other services such as education and housing are of indirect benefit to business ratepayers.

Business Rates are usually payable by the occupier of a non-domestic property. This will normally be the owner-occupier or the leaseholder. If a property is empty, the owner or leaseholder pays.

Gloucester City Council's role is to send the bills and collect Business Rates, administer rate relief and pay the net revenue we collect to central government. The government then re-allocates the revenue back to each council on the basis of per head of population.

Changes in circumstances
If you change your business address, please let Revenues Services know as soon as possible so an amended bill can be sent to you. Likewise, if you own a business property that you let out, please tell us when there is a change in leaseholder, or when the property is left empty for any length of time.

It is important that you contact us| immediately when a property becomes vacant.

Who can I talk to?
If you would like to talk to a member of the staff about Business Rates, please telephone 01452 396478.

 Please use the links below for further details of Business Rates:

• Frequently Asked Questions
  Information and advice on Business Rates
• Register for e-billing
  There are two ways to register for your Business Rate bill online
• Your Business Rates Bill
  Information on your business rates bill, including how your business rates have been worked out and transitional arrangements
• Rateable Value
  Information on how your rateable value is worked out, appealing against your rateable value and the 2005 revaluation.
• Transitional Arrangements
  Transitional arrangements phase in the new charges following a revaluation, so that businesses do not face huge increases in their bills.
• Deferral Scheme 2009/10
  Help was available to lighten the load of your bill - the scheme allowed businesses to postpone payment of some of their rates bill for that financial year only .
• Unoccupied Property and Exemptions to the Unoccupied Property Rate
  Empty properties will normally attract 100% charge after 3 months, or in the case of industrial properties, 6 months.

• Discretionary Rate Relief
  If you are a charity or non-profit making organisation, you may be awarded rate relief of up to 100%
• Mandatory Charitable Rate Relief
  Charities are entitled to 80% rate relief where the property is wholly or mainly used for charitable purposes
• Rate Relief for Community Amateur Sports Clubs
  Mandatory rate relief of 80% of the business rates bill is available to Community Amateur Sports Clubs
• Small Business Rate Relief
  Small businesses in Gloucester may receive rate relief of up to 50%
• Small Business Rate Relief - Frequently Asked Questions
  Find the answers to your questions on Small Business Rate Relief
• Downloadable Application Forms
  Download and print your application form for rate relief
• Making a Business Rates Payment
  You can pay your Business Rates bill using any of the following methods
• Falling behind with Payments
  It is important that you contact us if you are experiencing financial difficulties. The sooner you contact us the sooner we can help
• Contact Us
  Contact details for enquiries about business rates including phone numbers and e-mail addresses
• Independent Advice
  We have provided a list of useful contacts who can give you independent advice on your Business Rates

Last Updated: 04/03/10