Your Council Tax and Business Rates Explained - April 2020 - March 2021 - Tameside ...
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Your Council Tax
and Business Rates
Explained
April 2020 - March 2021
Contents
Contents
Council Tax Business Rates
How to pay your bill 3 How to pay your bill 3
Getting help to pay your bill 4 Business Rate information 13
Council Tax Support Scheme 5 National non-domestic rating multiplier 13
Discounts 6 Setting rateable values 13
Appeals 8 Valuation appeals 13
How we deal with benefit cheats 9 Business Rate instalments 14
Customer Services 10 Revaluation 2017 14
Changed your circumstances? 11 Unoccupied property rating 14
Electronic billing 11 Small Business Rate Relief 15
How your Council Tax is calculated 11 Relief for local newspapers 16
Our Income and Expenditure 12 Rating advisers 17
How to contact us 18 How to contact us 18
Save time
Make payments
A quick and secure way to pay
your council tax or general
invoices.
www.tameside.gov.uk/payments
2
How to pay your bill
Payments
Direct Debit Standing Orders
Direct Debit is the easiest way to pay your Council Tax or Business Rates payments
Council Tax or Business Rates. It is cost- can be made by standing order at your
effective, efficient and couldn’t be simpler. bank. See the back of your bill for further
Complete a direct debit instruction from the details.
Council’s website at
Payments can also be made:
www.tameside.gov.uk/payments
• At the Post Office
Direct Debit means your payments are • At any payzone outlet, using your Council
collected automatically each month. Your Tax or Business Rates bill
payments are covered by the Direct Debit • By cheque, debit/credit card at any
Guarantee Scheme. We will continue to Tameside Library using your Council Tax
collect your payments each year until you or Business Rates Bill.
instruct us otherwise.
On the web
To make a payment go to
www.tameside.gov.uk/payments
To check your Council Tax balance and
inform us of any changes register for the
new self service system.
Visit www.tameside.gov.uk select Council
Tax and click on self service.
Telephone Payments
Payments by debit/credit card can be made
on our 24-hour payment line:
0844 848 2566.
For BT customers, calls are charged up to
5p per minute, calls from other networks
and mobiles may vary.
Full payment details can be found on the back of your
Council Tax or Business Rates bill.
Council Tax, Housing Benefit and Business Rates customers can take
advantage of our improved self-service system:
Visit www.tameside.gov.uk and select Council Tax & Benefits for Self
Service information
3
Getting help to pay your Council Tax bill
Council Tax
If you find monthly payments difficult, you For advice on welfare benefits and tax credits:
can arrange to pay your bill weekly or www.tameside.gov.uk/debtadvice
fortnightly. If you choose this method you Tel: 0161 342 3494
will need to notify us so that we can amend Detailed below are other agencies, which offer
your instalment details. free advice if you are experiencing financial
You can arrange to pay your Council Tax bill difficulties:
by 12 monthly instalments. If you choose this Tameside Citizens Advice Bureau
method you will need to email the Council www.tamesidecab.org.uk
Tax Team at counciltax@tameside.gov.uk Tel: 0300 3309 076
by the 1 April 2020 so that we can amend National Debtline
your instalment details. www.nationaldebtline.org/EW
If you are experiencing difficulties paying your Tel: 0808 808 4000
bill, please make early contact by using the Advice Tameside
contact details at the back of this booklet. www.advicetameside.org.uk
We will check that your bill is correct, and For help with housing matters:
identify any reductions you may be entitled www.tameside.gov.uk/housing/advice
to that you may have not claimed. Housing Advice
Alternatively you can contact: www.tamesidehousingadvice.org
Welfare Rights & Debt Advice Service Tel: 0161 331 2700
For help if you are having difficulties with Shelter
rent or mortgage arrears. http://england.shelter.org.uk
www.tameside.gov.uk/debtadvice Tel: 0808 800 4444
Can you look after children?
We need you!
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mesid
obinTa
Call 0161 368 8865 or visit #BestJ
www.tameside.gov.uk/fostering
4
Council Tax Support Scheme
Council Tax
The Council Tax Support Scheme provides The main aspects of the Council Tax
financial assistance to Council Tax payers on Support Scheme 2020/2021 for working
a low income whether they rent or own their age claimants are:
own home, or live rent-free, by reducing the
• A maximum limit of 75% to the amount
amount of Council Tax they have to pay.
of Council Tax Support that can be paid
Claimants of a state pension age receive
• Council Tax Support is limited to the level
support based on prescribed regulations.
that would be given for a band A property
Claims for working age claimants are based
on the Council’s local scheme. • T
here is no provision for backdates
• A
discount of up to 100% of the Council
Who is it for? Tax that is due is awarded to care leavers
People on low income who are liable to pay up to the date of their 25th birthday
Council Tax may be entitled to help.
You can find more information at
www.tameside.gov.uk/ctss
How is it worked out?
The Council will look at the money you and
your partner have coming in as well as your
savings. The Council will also look at your How to claim
other circumstances such as your age and
You can claim Council Tax Support
whether anyone else lives with you. With this
straight away by using the online
information the Council will work out if you
application form at
qualify for Council Tax Support. If you can
www.tameside.gov.uk/ctss
get Council Tax Support, this will not affect
the amount of money you receive in other
benefits.
Download our Check the date of your collections,
free app
set reminders and report missed/lost bins.
Available from Apple Store or Google Play Store
Your next collection date
is
5
Discounts
Council Tax
Full Council Tax assumes there are two Long Term Empty over 24 months
adults living in the dwelling. If only one adult
If the property is unfurnished and is not
lives in a dwelling the Council Tax will be
your only or main residence and has been
reduced by 25%.
empty for more than 24 months, you will
Second Homes be required to pay 200% of the Council Tax
charge. Even if you have not owned the
If the property is furnished and another
property for 24 months you will still be liable
property in England or Wales is your main
for the charge if it has been empty under a
residence, you will be required to pay 100%
previous owner and is still empty.
of the Council Tax charge.
The changes to Council Tax empty property
Empty Properties charges from 01 April 2019 is detailed
If the property is not your only or main below.
residence and is empty, you will be required
to pay 100% of the Council Tax charge.
Effective From Amount Details
01 April 2019 200% Empty for 2 years or more
01 April 2020 200% Empty for less than 5 years
01 April 2020 300% Empty for 5 years or more
01 April 2021 200% Empty for less than 5 years
01 April 2021 300% Empty between 5 and 10 years
01 April 2021 400% Empty for 10 years or more
6
Council Tax
Other Discounts Disability Reduction
Some people are not counted when If you or someone who lives with you (adult
looking at the number of adults resident or child) has a room or an extra bathroom or
in a property if they meet certain kitchen, or extra space in your property to
conditions. meet special needs arising from a disability,
You may be eligible to a discount where you may be entitled to a reduction in your
there are: Council Tax.
• full-time students, student nurses, The bill may be reduced to that of a band
apprentices, youth training trainees and immediately below that shown on the
initial teacher-training trainees valuation list. If your home is in band A you
• patients resident in hospital will already be in the lowest Council Tax
• people who are being looked after in care band, however, you may still qualify for a
homes reduction.
• people who are severely mentally impaired Forms are also available on the Council’s
• people staying in certain hostels or night website:
shelters www.tameside.gov.uk/counciltax/
• 18 to 19-year-olds who are at, or have just discounts
left school
• careworkers working for low pay. Usually If your bill indicates that a discount,
for charities exemption, or disability reduction has
• people caring for someone with a disability been allowed, you must tell Tameside
who is not a spouse, partner or child Council within 21 days of any change
under 18 in circumstances which affects your
•
people living in an annexe owned by a entitlement to that discount.
family member who occupies the main If you fail to do so you may be required
property to pay a penalty of £70.
•
members of visiting forces and certain
international institutions
• people in prison (except those in prison
for non-payment of Council Tax or a fine).
For a full list of all discounts or for further
information visit:
www.tameside.gov.uk/counciltax/
discounts
7
Appeals
Council Tax
Property Bands Council Tax
You may appeal against your property You may also appeal if you think that you are
banding where: not liable to pay Council Tax. For example,
because you are not the owner, or because
• Y
ou believe that the banding should be
the property is exempt, or you believe we
changed because of an increase or
have made a mistake in calculating your
reduction in the value of the property due
bill. If you wish to make an appeal on these
to building work being carried out on the
grounds you must first notify us in writing so
dwelling, i.e. demolition, extensions or
that we have the opportunity to review the
converting the property from houses to
case.
flats
Please write to:
• Y
ou adapt part of your dwelling for
Tameside Council Tax Service, PO Box 304,
business use and it is entered into the
Ashton-under-Lyne, OL6 0GA.
Non Domestic Rating list
Making an appeal does not allow you
• The
Listing Officer has altered a list
to withhold payment of Council Tax.
without a proposal having been made by
Payments should continue to be made
a taxpayer
in accordance with the instalments
• P
hysical changes in the locality affecting shown on your bill. If your appeal is
value; or within 6 months of the following: successful you will be entitled to a
A band change to your property made by refund of any overpaid Council Tax.
the Listing Officer; a band change made
to a similar property to yours has been Warning about Council Tax
made by a tribunal or court; you have “Appeal” Calls
become a taxpayer at the property in the
last 6 months If you are contacted by a company claiming
they can get you a refund by having your
• W
here a property is in severe disrepair or home moved to a lower Council Tax band,
dereliction you can appeal to the Valuation please bear in mind the following:
Office Agency to request that the property
be removed from tax. • The
companies have not been appointed
by Tameside Council
Reductions or increases in value resulting
from the general state of the housing market • A
ttempts to change your Council Tax band
do not affect the banding of your property. by using one of these companies usually
requires a non-refundable up-front fee, or
You can contact the VOA at any time using they will often take a large percentage of
https://www.gov.uk/contact-voa to find any overpayment secured
the relevant details.
• A
ny appeal could result in your property
If you cannot use the online service, call band going up rather than down, resulting
03000 501 501. Lines are open Monday to in a higher Council Tax charge.
Friday, 8:30am to 5:00pm
If you genuinely believe your Council Tax
Contact address: Valuation Office Agency, property band is wrong, you can appeal
Durham Customer Service Centre, Wycliffe without incurring costs or requiring
House, Green Lane, Durham, DH1 3UW assistance from any other company. For
further information visit:
www.tameside.gov.uk/counciltax
8
How we deal with benefit cheats
Council Tax
Benefit Fraud investigations are undertaken To report suspected Benefit Fraud
by the Department for Work and Pensions
under the umbrella of the Single Fraud
Investigation Service. The Council is You can ring the Benefit Fraud
committed to tackling Benefit Fraud. Hotline service on 0800 854 440
which is a free phone number and
Typical examples of benefit fraud are:
all calls are treated in absolute
*People who work but do not declare this confidence. A trained member
when they claim benefit. of staff will take any information
*People who claim as a single person but you can provide regarding people
actually live with a partner. committing benefit fraud.
*People who claim from an address but do
not live there. For further information visit:
www.gov.uk/report-benefit-fraud
* People who do not tell us the full amount of
income, savings or capital when they claim
benefit.
We're closing in
with hundreds of benefit thieves being reported
If you suspect someone of benefit fraud in your area
call the Fraud Hotline: 0800 854 440
www.tameside.gov.uk/benefitfraud
9
Customer Services
Council Tax
Our Customer Services centre is located within Tameside One, Market Place, Ashton-under-
Lyne, Tameside OL6 6BH.
Opening hours
Monday - Wednesday 8.30am - 5.00pm
Thursday 8.30am - 4.30pm
Friday 8.30am - 4.00pm
Appointment Service and Drop In.
At all libraries within the Borough during staffed hours, you will be able to pay your council
bills by credit/debit card or by cheque and have your documents verified for Housing Benefit
purposes. Library staff can also provide information on Council Services, for details of each
libraries staffed hours, please look on our website at www.tameside.gov.uk/libraries/
openingtimes
Tameside Central Library Hattersley Library
Tameside One, Market Place, The Hub, Stockport Road,
Ashton-under-Lyne Tameside OL6 6BH Hattersley SK14 6NT
Tel: 0161 342 2029 / 2030 Tel: 0161 342 2552
Fax: 0161 330 4762 Fax: 0161 342 3339
Denton Library Hyde Library
Town Hall, Market Street, Town Hall, Greenfield Street,
Denton, M34 2AP Hyde SK14 1AL
Tel: 0161 342 3406 Tel: 0161 342 4450
Fax: 0161 342 3403 Fax: 0161 342 4333
Droylsden Library Mossley Library
Manchester Road, Droylsden, M43 6EP George Lawton Hall, Stamford Street,
Tel: 0161 370 1282 Mossley, OL5 0HR
Fax: 0161 371 1886 Tel: 0161 342 3787
Fax: 0161 342 4390
Dukinfield Library
Concord Way, Dukinfield, SK16 4DB Stalybridge Library
Tel: 0161 330 3257 Trinity Street, Stalybridge, SK15 2BN
Fax: 0161 330 3426 Tel: 0161 338 2708 / 3831
Fax: 0161 303 8289
FREE early education for
two year olds.
You could be eligible!
Don’t delay apply now using our simple online form
www.tameside.gov.uk/2yearfunding
10Changed your circumstances?
Council Tax
Please tell us immediately of any changes in • Someone leaves your property
your circumstances, which may affect your • If you feel you should be entitled to a
Council Tax liability. discount or an exemption
These are some of the changes that should • If you cease to be employed or start work.
be reported:
• If you move house
• Someone comes to live with you
Electronic Billing
Electronic Billing is a more effective and Council Tax account online. When registered
efficient way to receive your Council Tax bill. you will be prompted to sign up for e-billing.
To receive your Council Tax bill by email Simply provide your email address and
rather than post, please visit: select the “email with link” option and
www.tameside.gov.uk select Council confirm.
Tax, Benefits and click Self Service.
You will then be advised how to view your
From there you can register to view your on-line Council Tax bill.
How your Council Tax is calculated
Most homes will be subject to Council Tax. There will be one bill per home whether it is a
house, bungalow, flat, maisonette, mobile home or houseboat, and whether it is owned
or rented. The Listing Officer has allocated each property to one of eight valuation bands
according to its market value on 1st April 1991.
Property Valuation Band Tameside £ Mossley £
A (Up to and including £40,000) 1218.12 1224.23
B (£40,001 - £52,000) 1421.16 1428.28
C (£52,001 - £68,000) 1624.16 1632.30
D (£68,001 - £88,000) 1827.20 1836.36
E (£88,001 - £120,000) 2233.23 2244.43
F (£120,001 - £160,000) 2639.28 2652.51
G (£160,001 - £320,000) 3045.32 3060.59
H (More than £320,000) 3654.40 3672.72
This table details the amount of Council Tax payable by band, including Mossley Parish precept.
11Our Income and Expenditure
Council Tax
The extent of total Council expenditure is input from public consultation, consultation
dictated by the amount of income or funding with local businesses, Government policies,
we receive. In the light of future financial performance information and external
constraints it has become even more inspections. The charts below summarise
important that the Council continues to align the sources of funding received by the
limited resources with key Council priorities, Council and how we plan to utilise them in
which are all influenced by local priorities, the upcoming financial year.
Where we get our funding from - £342 million
£97 million (28%)
Local Council Tax
£138 million (40%)
Schools funding from
Central Government
£84 million (25%)
Business Rates
£23 million (7%)
Other Funding
Where we spend our money - £342 million £38 million (11%)
Adults Services
£60 million (18%)
Childrens Services
£138 million (40%) £15 million (5%)
Population Health
Schools
£8 million (2%)
Finance & IT
£10 million (3%)
Governance
£53 million (15%)
Operations & Neighbourhoods
£11 million (3%) £9 million (3%)
Growth Corporate Costs
The Council’s funding is mainly made up of Central Government grants and money raised through
Council Tax and locally retained Business Rates.
You can view detailed information regarding the expenditure of the Council and precepting
authorities at www.tameside.gov.uk/counciltax. Alternatively a hard copy can be requested
by contacting the Council Tax team.
12Business Rates
Business Rates
Non-Domestic Rates office-agency The rateable value of your
property is shown on the front of your bill.
Business Rates collected by local This broadly represents the yearly rent the
authorities are the way that those who property could have been let for on the
occupy non-domestic property contribute open market on a particular date. For the
towards the cost of local services. From revaluation that came into effect on 1st
1 April 2017, Tameside Metropolitan April 2017, this date was set as 1st April
Borough Council is part of the Greater 2015.
Manchester 100% Business Rates
Retention Pilot. This sees the Council The valuation officer may alter the value if
retain 99% of the Business Rates income circumstances change. The ratepayer
collected locally (1% is given to the (and certain others who have an interest
Greater Manchester Fire Authority) rather in the property) can appeal against the
than pay 50% of this income to Central value shown in the list if they believe it is
Government as it has had to do since wrong. Full details on your rights of appeal
April 2013. As a result of the Pilot, Central are available from the Valuation Office
Government support through the Revenue Agency. Your billing authority can only
Support Grant and Public Health Grant will backdate any business rates rebate to the
cease to be paid to the Council. Instead date from which any change to the list is
income generated through local taxation to have effect.
such as Business Rates and Council Tax,
and self-generated income will be needed Further information about the grounds
to pay for essential Council Services in on which appeals may be made and the
your area. This provides a direct financial process for doing so can be found on the
incentive for the Council to work with www.gov.uk website or obtained from
local businesses to create a favourable your local valuation office.
local environment for growth since the
Council will be increasingly reliant on the Rating Multiplier
income generated by the future growth
in Business Rates revenues. Further The local authority works out the business
information about the Business Rates rates bill by multiplying the rateable
system, including transitional and other value of the property by the appropriate
reliefs can be obtained at www.tameside. multiplier. There are two multipliers: the
gov.uk/business/rates standard non-domestic rating multiplier
and the small business non-domestic
Rateable Value rating multiplier. The former is higher to
pay for small business rate relief. Except
Apart from properties that are exempt in the City of London where special
from business rates, each non-domestic arrangements apply, the Government
property has a rateable value which is set sets the multipliers for each financial year
by the valuation officers of the Valuation for the whole of England according to
Office Agency (VOA), an agency of Her formulae set by legislation.
Majesty’s Revenue and Customs. They
draw up and maintain a full list of all The current multipliers are shown on the
rateable values, available at www.gov.uk/ front of your bill.
government/ organisations/valuation-
13Business Rates
Business Rates Instalments 1st April 2017, transitional arrangements
will not normally apply to the part of a bill
Payment of business rate bills is that relates to any increase in rateable
automatically set on a 10-monthly cycle. value due to those changes. Changes
However, the Government has put in place to your bill as a result of other reasons
regulations that allow businesses to require (such as changes to the amount of small
their local authority to enable payments to business rate relief) are not covered by the
be made through 12 monthly instalments. transitional arrangements.
If you wish to take up this offer, you should
contact the local authority as soon as The transitional arrangements are applied
possible. automatically and are shown on your bill.
Further information about transitional
Revaluation 2017 and arrangements and other reliefs may be
obtained from www.tameside.gov.uk/
Transitional Arrangements businessrates or the www.gov.uk/
introduction-to-business-rates.
All rateable values are reassessed at a
general revaluation. The most recent
More information on the 2017
revaluation took effect from 1st April
revaluation can be found at www.gov.
2017. Revaluations make sure each
uk/introduction-tobusiness-rates/
ratepayer pays their fair contribution
revaluation
and no more, by ensuring that the share
of the national rates bill paid by any one Unoccupied Property Rating
ratepayer reflects changes over time in the
value of their property relative to others. Business rates will not be payable in the
Revaluation does not raise extra money first three months that a property is empty.
for Government. This is extended to six months in the case
of certain industrial properties. After this
Whilst the 2017 revaluation did not period rates are payable in full unless
increase the amount of rates collected the unoccupied property rate has been
nationally, within this overall picture, the reduced by the Government by order.
majority of ratepayers received a reduction In most cases the unoccupied property
or no change in their bill whereas some rate is zero for properties owned by
ratepayers saw increases. charities and community amateur sports
clubs. In addition, there are a number of
A £3.6billion transitional relief scheme exemptions from the unoccupied property
limits and phase in changes in rate bills rate. Full details on exemptions can be
as a result of the 2017 revaluation. To help obtained from your local authority. If the
pay for the limits on increases in bills, there unoccupied property rate for the financial
are also limits on reductions in bills. Under year has been reduced by order, it will be
the transitional scheme, limits continue to shown on your bill.
apply to yearly increases and decreases
until the full amount is due (rateable value
times the appropriate multiplier). The
scheme applies only to the bill based on
a property at the time of the revaluation. If
there are any changes to the property after
14Business Rates
Partly Occupied Property value of all the properties mentioned in
(b), must not exceed £19,999 outside
Relief London or £27,999 in London on each
day for which relief is being sought. If
A ratepayer is liable for the full non- the rateable value, or aggregate rateable
domestic rate whether a property is wholly value, increases above those levels, relief
occupied or only partly occupied. Where will cease from the day of the increase.
a property is partly occupied for a short
time, the local authority has discretion in The Government has introduced
certain cases to award relief in respect of additional support to small businesses.
the unoccupied part. Full details can be For those businesses that take on an
obtained from the local authority. additional property which would normally
have meant the loss of small business rate
Small Business Rate Relief relief, the Government has confirmed that
they will be allowed to keep that relief for a
Ratepayers who occupy a property with
period of 12 months.
a rateable value which does not exceed
£50,999 (and who are not entitled to other
Where a ratepayer meets the eligibility
mandatory relief or are liable for
criteria and has not received the relief
unoccupied property rates) will have their
they should contact their local authority.
bills calculated using the lower small
Provided the ratepayer continues to satisfy
business nondomestic rating multiplier,
the conditions for relief which apply at
rather than the national non-domestic
the relevant time as regards the property
rating multiplier.
and the ratepayer, they will automatically
continue to receive relief in each new
In addition, generally, if the sole or main
valuation period.
property is shown on the rating list with
a rateable value which does not exceed
Certain changes in circumstances will
£15,000, the ratepayer will receive a
need to be notified to the local authority
percentage reduction in their rates bill for
by a ratepayer who is in receipt of relief
this property of up to a maximum of 100%.
(other changes will be picked up by the
local authority). The changes which should
For a property with a rateable value of
be notified are—
not more than £12,000, the ratepayer will
receive a 100% reduction in their rates bill.
The ratepayer taking up occupation of an
additional property.
Generally, this percentage reduction (relief)
is only available to ratepayers who occupy Charity and Community
either-
(a) one property, or Amateur Sports Club Relief
(b) one main property and other additional
properties providing those additional Charities and registered Community
properties each have a rateable value Amateur Sports Clubs are entitled to 80%
which does not exceed £2,899. relief where the property is occupied by
the charity or the club, and is wholly or
The rateable value of the property mainly used for the charitable purposes of
mentioned in (a), or the aggregate rateable the charity (or of that and other charities),
15Business Rates
or for the purposes of the club (or of that powers (under section 47(3) of the Local
and other clubs). The local authority has Government Finance Act 1988). Further
discretion to give further relief on the information can be obtained from your
remaining bill. Full details can be obtained local authority.
from the local authority.
Spring Budget 2017 Relief
Relief for Local Newspapers Scheme: Discretionary
The Government is providing funding to Scheme
local authorities so that they can provide
a discount worth up to £1,500 a year for 5 The Government is providing £300 million
years from 1st April 2020, to office space of funding to local authorities over 4 years
occupied by local newspapers. This is up to 31st March 2021 to provide discounts to
to a maximum of one discount per local ratepayers in their area on a discretionary
newspaper title and per hereditament, basis. Each authority has been allocated a
and up to state aid limits. The relief will share with which to design and implement
be delivered through local authority a scheme to deliver targeted support to
discretionary discount powers (under ratepayers. The £300m will cover the 4
section 47(3) of the Local Government years from 2017/18: £175m in 2017/18;
Finance Act 1988). Eligibility criteria £85m in 2018/19; £35m in 2019/20
for this relief is set out in a guidance and £5m in 2020/21. Local authority
note: “The case for a business rates allocations can be found at: https://www.
relief for local newspapers”, which gov.uk/government/consultations/
can be obtained at www.gov.uk/ discretionary-business-rates-relief-
government/ consultations/the-case- scheme
for-a-businessrates- relief-for-local-
newspapers This relief will be delivered through
local authority discretionary discount
Spring Budget 2017 Relief powers (under section 47(3) of the Local
Government Finance Act 1988). Further
Scheme: Supporting Small information can be obtained from your
Business local authority.
Ratepayers losing Small Business or Retail Discount
Rural Rate Relief as a result of the 2017
revaluation will have their increases limited The Government announced in the Budget
to the greater of either (i) a cash value of on 29 October 2018 that it would provide
£600 per year, or (ii) the matching cap a Business Rates Retail Discount, to
on increases for small properties in the apply in the years 2019/20 and 2020/21.
transitional relief scheme. This relief will In a Written Ministerial Statement on 27
run for 5 years to 31st March 2022 and January 2020 the Government announced
ratepayers will receive the relief until this that it would extend the value of the
date or they reach what their bill would Retail Discount from one third of the bill
have been within the relief scheme, to 50% in 2020/21. This relief will apply to
whichever is first. occupied retail properties with a rateable
value of less than £51,000 in the year
This relief will be delivered through 2020/21. Where an authority applies a
local authority discretionary discount locally funded relief under section 47 this
16Business Rates
must be applied after the Retail Discount Rating advisers
and, where appropriate, the 2020/21 pubs
discount. Ratepayers do not have to be represented
in discussions about their rateable value
The Government has issued guidance or their rates bill. Appeals against rateable
on the operation of the scheme, which values can be made free of charge.
can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/ However, ratepayers who do wish to be
government/publications/business- represented should be aware that members
rates-retail-discount-guidance. of the Royal Institution of Chartered
Surveyors (RICS - website www.rics.org)
This relief will be delivered through and the Institute of Revenues, Rating and
local authority discretionary discount Valuation (IRRV
powers (under section 47(3) of the Local - website www.irrv.org.uk) are qualified
Government Finance Act 1988). Further and are regulated by rules of professional
information can be obtained from the local conduct designed to protect the public
authority. from misconduct. Before you employ
a rating adviser, you should check that
Local Discounts they have the necessary knowledge
and expertise, as well as appropriate
Local authorities have a general power to
indemnity insurance. Take great care and,
grant discretionary local discounts. Full
if necessary, seek further advice before
details can be obtained from the local
entering into any contract.
authority.
Information Supplied with
State Aid
Demand Notices
The award of such discounts is considered
likely to amount to state aid. However it will Information relating to the relevant and
be state aid compliant where it is provided previous financial years in regard to the
in accordance with the De Minimis gross expenditure of the local authority is
Regulations EC 1407/2013. The De available at www.tameside.gov.uk
Minimis Regulations allow an undertaking
to receive up to EUR 200,000 ‘de minimis’ A hard copy is available on request by
aid over a rolling three year period. If you writing to the Council or by telephone to
are receiving, or have received, any ‘de 0161 342 2045.
minimis’ aid granted during the current
or two previous financial years (from Pubs Discount
any source), you should inform the local
authority immediately with details of the In a Written Ministerial Statement on 27
aid received. January 2020 the Government announced
that eligible pubs will receive a £1,000
Hardship Relief discount on their business rates bills for
one year from April 2020. Relief will be
The local authority has discretion to give provided to eligible occupied pubs with
hardship relief in specific circumstances. a rateable value of less than £100,000 in
Full details can be obtained from the local 2020/21.
authority.
17How to contact us
Council Tax
It's quicker,
www.tameside.gov.uk/counciltax
easier and
Email: counciltax@tameside.gov.uk
cheaper to
0161 342 2015
do it on-line
Business Rates
www.tameside.gov.uk/businessrates
Email: businessrates@tameside.gov.uk
0161 342 2233
Benefits
www.tameside.gov.uk/benefits
Email: benefitsteam@tameside.gov.uk
0161 342 3708
Keep in touch with local news and
events by following us on
and
www.tameside.gov.uk/facebook
www.tameside.gov.uk/twitter
18Getting off
a stop early
Moving for just 30 minutes a day
has all sorts of benefits. But don’t fret Find the best way
about the time. Can’t do 30 minutes? to get your 30 in
Try 30 steps more - it all counts! So
come rain or shine, get your 30 in! thatcounts.co.uk
tameside.gov.uk/
walkingandcycling
The
Big
Conversation
Want to help shape local public services?
Join ‘The Big Conversation’ to stay up to date with
consultation & engagement activity from Tameside Council
and NHS Tameside & Glossop Clinical Commissioning Group.
Sign up here and have your say!
www.tameside.gov.uk/jointhebigconversation
19You can also read
