A selection of images representing communities.
Businesses and other non-domestic occupiers of property pay non-domestic rates (also known as business rates) to contribute towards the cost of local authority services. Business rates paid by ratepayers are collected in a central account held by the Department for Communities and Local Government and then redistributed back to local authorities as part of the local government finance settlement.
There are four main organisations involved in local government taxation and each one has a separate responsibility in relation to business rates.
Information about help with business rates bills available to ratepayers in the wake of the recent public disorders can be found in a written ministerial statement from Communities Secretary Eric Pickles.
The Chancellor announced in the Budget that the Government is temporarily increasing the level of small business rate relief, so that eligible small businesses occupying properties with rateable values up to £6,000 will pay no business rates for one year from October 2010. Small businesses benefiting from the rate relief taper (rateable values up to £12,000) may also receive significant reductions.
For more information see the related BRIL webpage or contact your local authority.
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