Business Rates
Business Rates are charged on properties that are used for a wide range of purposes which does not include domestic or residential use.
What are Business Rates?
Torridge District Council is responsible for the billing and collection of business rates from more than 3,000 business premises across the district. totalling approximately £10m. Business rates are the way that those who occupy non-domestic property contribute towards the cost of local services. Under the business rates retention arrangements introduced from 1 April 2013, authorities keep a proportion of the business rates paid locally. This provides a direct financial incentive for authorities to work with local businesses to create a favourable local environments for growth since local authorities will benefit from growth in business rates revenues.
The money, together with revenue from council tax payers, revenue support grant provided by the Government and certain other sums, is used to pay for the services provided by your local authority and other local authorities in your area.
Every non-domestic property has a rateable value unless it is exempt from rating. Properties which are subject to payment of business rates include:
- restaurants
- public houses
- hotels
- shops
- factories
- offices
- workshops
- beach huts
- self catering holiday accommodation
- schools
- hospitals
Certain types of property may be exempt from rates,for example, fish farms, places of religious worship and farm buildings and land (excluding buildings used as offices or for other business activities).
A property that is used for both domestic and non-domestic purposes is classified as a composite property and is subject to payment of both Non-Domestic rates and Council Tax. Examples of composite properties are public houses and hotels with self contained owners accommodation.
The occupier of a non-domestic property normally pays the Business Rates - this is usually the owner-occupier or leaseholder.
If you would like to pay your Business Rates please follow the Pay Your Bills Online link on the right of this page.
(*Please note, there is a 1.7% surcharge for the use of credit cards)
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We have introduced 0300 telephone numbers. This means that whenever you call our automated payment line you will only ever be charged at the local rate, even when you ring from a mobile telephone. To make a payment call 0300 7900 215 at any time
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Additional Rate Relief for Small Businesses
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Available to download from this page are the documents that are included with Torridge District Council's Annual Bills.
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Available to download from this page are the documents that are included with Torridge District Council's Annual Bills.
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The Government has removed the requirement for ratepayers to re-apply for Small Business Rate Relief
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From 1 April 2011 any empty non-domestic property with a rateable value of £2,600 or more is subject to payment of empty property rates.
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In his Autumn Statement in November 2011, the Chancellor announced that a new deferral scheme would be introduced from 2012. The scheme offered business ratepayers the chance to postpone payment of some of the rates bill for the 2012-13 financial year only, over a three year period. <br /><br />
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The amount you pay is based on multiplying the rateable value of your property by the National Non-Domestic Rating Multiplier (the annual rate in the pound)
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The organisation or person trading from the property is normally responsible for paying the non-domestic rates bill
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There are a number of discounts and exemptions that can help to reduce the amount of rates that you have to pay.
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Transitional relief helps to reduce the impact of sudden and significant rises in rates bills following revaluations.
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Holiday properties that are available to let on a commercial basis for more than 20 weeks of the year should be subject to payment of Business Rates rather than Council Tax
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If you get into payment difficulties and you cannot afford your payments you should contact the business rates team straight away to see if we can help you by making a different payment arrangement.
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General help and advice for businesses can be obtained from the following organisations
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You can download the application form for the relief you require here
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This policy covers the collection of Council Tax, Business Rates, Debtors and Housing Benefit Overpayments.
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In this area you will find a selection of leaflets in PDF format for you to download and print if you wish
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A list of Limited Company Business Rates credits held by the Council
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