Question: What are business rates, and why do we have to pay them?

Answer: Business rates are collected by Derby City Council but are paid directly to central government. The government then redistributes the money raised from business rates back to councils in the form of a grant. The present business rates system was introduced in 1990. At this time all business properties were valued. A revaluation takes place every five years. The last revaluation was in April 2005. Information about business rates is also available on the Valuation Office Website. 

Question: Where can I make a payment?
 
Answer: You can make a payment at the Council House,
Ground Floor
The Council House
Corporation Street
Monday - Thursday 8.30am - 4.30pm
Friday 8.30am - 4.00pm

These times will be changing from 1st April 2008

Make an online payment

Question: How do I make a complaint?

Answer: Contact us if you have a complaint about our service. We will respond to you within ten working days. You can make a formal complaint if you are still not satisfied. Ask at any Council office for a complaint form.

Question: How do I notify you of a change of address?

Answer: You should notify us immediately of any change of address. This will help us to calculate your correct charge as soon as possible.

Question: Can you tell me the rateable value of a certain property?

Answer: The Valuation Office, an agency of the Inland Revenue, calculate this rateable value and keep a valuation list of all the rating assessments. The list can be inspected at the Council offices or at the Valuation Office in Derby.
You can also inspect the list on their web site by clicking on the Valuation Office link shown here.

Question: I have taken over a property but only occupy part of it; can I have a reduced rate?

Answer: If the situation is permanent, please let us know. We will report it to the Valuation Office Agency to check the property to see if they can alter the entry in the Rating List to reflect the change. If the situation is only short term then you may be entitled to claim a section 44a discount. You should write to us with details of the areas which are occupied and unoccupied. We will need to know when you intend to occupy the whole building. We will then ask the Valuation Office Agency to tell us the rateable values of the occupied and unoccupied areas and send you a recalculated bill.

Question: What are the rates payable?

Answer: Business rates are collected by Derby City Council but are paid directly to central government. The government then redistributes the money raised from business rates back to councils in the form of a grant.

The rateable value of the property is a value based on the annual rent which would be paid on the property if it were rented. The Valuation Office, an agency if the Inland Revenue, calculate this rateable value and keep a valuation list of all the rating assessments.

The list can be inspected at the Council offices or at the Valuation Office in Derby. You can also inspect the list on the Valuation Office Agency web site.

Question: I am moving out of a business but will still own the property do I still have to pay business rates?

Answer: From the date the property becomes totally empty (fixtures and fittings are classed as empty) there will be a 3 or 6 month rate exemption depenfing on the property description. After this date there is a 100% charge. If the property has a rateable value (RV) of less than 2200 it will be exempt from empty property charges. Properties owned by charities and community amateur sports clubs will, in future, not be liable to empty property rates if the property's next use is likely to be wholly or mainly for charitable purposes or for the purposes of a sports club.

Please notify the Business Rates office of the vacation date as soon as possible.

Question: I have moved into a business address but I am only renting it, am I liable to pay the rates?

Answer: Yes, the person who occupies the property is the liable person for the charge.

Question: I have moved out of a business property but still have a lease on the property, am I still liable for the Business Rates?

Answer: Yes, you are liable for the empty property rate until either your lease ends or the premises are occupied by another party. 

Question: I occupy a business property but the owner has said he will pay the charge. Who pays the bill?
 
Answer: You will still be the liable person and your name will be on the bill, however the bill can be sent directly to the owner for payment, please request this in writing showing both Landlord and Occupiers signatures.

Question: Can I appeal against Rateable Value?

Answer: Yes. If you think your rateable value is wrong, you can ask the Valuation Officer to change it.

Question: Will alterations to the property affect my business rates?

Answer: If a rateable value changes after 1st April 2000, for example because there has been an alteration to the property, the bill will be amended from the date of change. When a property is revalued there is a right of appeal.

Question: Can I get a reduction in business rates?

Answer: From the date the property becomes totally empty (fixtures and fittings are classed as empty) there will be a 3 or 6 month rate exemption depenfing on the property description. After this date there is a 100% charge. If the property has a rateable value (RV) of less than 2200 it will be exempt from empty property charges. Properties owned by charities and community amateur sports clubs will, in future, not be liable to empty property rates if the property's next use is likely to be wholly or mainly for charitable purposes or for the purposes of a sports club.

Registered charities are entitled to an 80% reduction in their rates bill. The council has discretion to make a further reduction to the remaining 20% of the bill.

We also have discretion to grant relief to certain other non profit making bodies whose must be philanthropic, religious or concerned with education or social welfare.

Question: How are business rates calculated?

Answer: The basic calculation of the bill is worked out as follows:

Rateable Value x Multiplier = Rates due for the year.

How business rates are calculated