Coronavirus: business rates updates
Business support grant debt recovery
Since March 2020, we have paid business support grants to businesses across the city who were registered for business rates, whose business had a rateable value and had been forced to close or had been severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. These business support grant schemes include:
- small business grant
- retail, hospitality and leisure grant
- local restrictions support grant
- closed business lockdown payment
- Christmas support payment for wet-led pubs
- restart grant.
Government guidance regarding the schemes is available on the GOV.UK website.
I've received a COVID-19 business support grant payment in error
If you have received a COVID-19 business support grant payment from Derby City Council since March 2020 and you believe you may not be entitled to it, email business.rates@derby.gov.uk to arrange repayment.
I've received an invoice to repay a COVID-19 business support grant
If you have received an invoice from Derby City Council to repay a COVID-19 grant, follow the repayment instructions shown on the invoice. A letter will also be included with the invoice that will provide further advice and guidance.
If you would like to discuss repayment or set up a payment plan, email Finance2@derby.gov.uk.
If you would like to discuss why the invoice has been sent to you, email Inspectionservice@derby.gov.uk.
What will happen if I don’t repay a COVID-19 business support grant?
If we write to you and ask you to repay a COVID-19 grant, you must follow the timescale on the invoice.
If you fail to repay, we will refer your debt to the Government department who administer the grant scheme, the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS). BEIS will then determine the most appropriate course of action to ensure that the debt is repaid. This is in accordance with the guidelines set out by BEIS to local authorities.
Expanded retail discount and nursery discount
All qualifying businesses have been identified and bills showing the 100% relief have been sent.
The expanded retail discount scheme or nursery discount scheme only apply from 1 April 2021 to 30 June 2021.
Further discount schemes for both expanded retail discount and nursery discount will be available from 1 July 2021 to 31 March 2022 when a 66% discount will apply to eligible ratepayers.
We will issue a separate bill for the further expanded retail discount or nursery discount scheme at a later date.
You can choose to refuse either the expanded retail discount or the nursery discount for the property to which the bill refers to. If you would like to do this, email business.rates@derby.gov.uk and enter 'Refusal of Discount 21/22' in the email subject title. We will then issue a revised bill that does not include the appropriate discount.
Update - July 2021
In line with the information regarding the expanded retail discount and nursery discount, we will issue revised Business Rates bills by the end of July 2021.
This will either show the new amount of expanded retail discount from 1 July 2021 (66%) or it will have been removed completely, depending on the circumstances of your business.