Business rates

Most businesses in North Devon must pay rates. The money collected from the business rates goes direct to central government which then distributes the money nationally around the country based on the adult population in each area.

Further information and practical advice can be found at:

GOV.UK: the official government website for businesses of all sizes

Small Business Rate Relief

On 23 July 2010, the Government brought into force new regulations to make Small Business Rates Relief more generous for one year, starting from 1 October 2010.

Eligible ratepayers were entitled to relief at 100% (up from 50%) on properties with rateable values up to £6,000 with a tapered relief of between 100% and 0% for properties with rateable values between £6,001 and £12,000.

The change related to the Business Rate liability between 1 October 2010 and 30 September 2011.

However, the enhancement to the scheme has twice been extended and is now due to expire on 31 March 2013.

Eligibility for Small Business Rate Relief

The property must have a rateable value below £18,000 .

The rate relief is only available to ratepayers with either

one occupied property or
one main occupied property and other additional occupied properties providing those additional properties have rateable values less than £2,600 and the total value all the properties remains under an overall threshold of £18,000

Changes from 1 April 2012

From 1 April 2012 the criteria for eligibility will change. Every occupied property with a Rateable Value of less than £18000 will pay the lower multiplier of 45.0p in the £ rather than the standard 45.8p for 2012/13 regardless of whether it is the ratepayer’s only occupied property.

The property will still only qualify for a further discount if it is the ratepayer’s only occupied property.

If you think you meet these criteria and you haven't already applied for Small Business Rate Relief then please contact us.

Contact information

You can contact the business rates team in several ways.

By post:

North Devon Council
Lynton House
Commercial Road
Barnstaple
Devon
EX31 1DG

Telephone: 01271 388361
For Typetalk: precede with 18001
Text: 07624 804042
Fax: 01271 326134
Email: businessrates@northdevon.gov.uk