ACS

In England and Wales small businesses are entitled to small business rate relief if the rateable value of their premises is less than £15,000 (£21,500 in London). Special rules apply for businesses that own more than one property (but with a total rateable value below this limit). Research from the Local Government Association (LGA) suggests that fewer than half of the 870,000 small businesses across England which qualify for the scheme have applied for it. The survey, which was carried out in 2006, reveals that the take-up of SBRR varies widely across the country (79% in the North East, but only 26% in the North West, for example).

In small business rate relief the amount of relief you qualify for depends on the rateable value of your non-domestic premises.
If the rateable value of the property is less than £ 5,000, the rates are calculated using the small business multiplier, which for 2008/09 is 45.8 pence, and reduced by 50 per cent.
If the rateable value is from £5,000 to £9,999, the reduction decreases on a sliding scale of 1 per cent for every £100. For example, if the rateable value is £7,500, the rates are reduced by 25 per cent.
If the rateable value is from £10,000 to £14,999 (£21,499 in London), rates are also calculated using the small business multiplier. For 2008 /09, the small business multiplier is 45.8 pence (instead of the standard 46.2 pence).
To qualify for rate relief:

• You must occupy one property. Any other properties you occupy must have rateable values below £2,200 and the total rateable value of all of your properties must be under £10,000.
• All properties must be on the local rating list on 1st April of each year.
• You must apply for the relief to your local billing authority within six months of the end of the chargeable year.

Premises that are subject to business rates are given a rateable value by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA). Local authorities use the VOA’s assessment of a property's rateable value to calculate business rates bills. The rateable value is based on the likely annual open market rent for the premises at a particular date.
To find out if you are entitled to rate relief you need to determine the rateable value of your business, click here to do this:

To apply for small business rate relief for your business you need to contact your local council by September 1st to qualify for the relief this year. Eligible ratepayers must apply for the relief each year.