Business Rates

National Non-Domestic Rates (NNDR), or business rates, collected by local authorities are the way that those who occupy non-domestic property contribute towards the cost of local services.

Local Authority Discretionary Grant - Now Closed

The Local Authority Discretionary Grant closed at 5pm on the 9th June 2020.

The scheme was open for applications from Tuesday 26 May 2020 at 09.00 to Tuesday 9 June 2020 at 17.00.

The scheme is now closed and applications received will be prioritised for payment, based on the application form. We are busy processing all of the applications and businesses should start to receive payments during week commencing 15 June 2020. You will be contacted if more information is needed and any unsuccessful applications will be notified in due course.

Local Authority Discretionary Grant

Small Business Grant Funding

The Government is providing local authorities with additional funding to support small businesses that already pay little or no business rates because of small business rate relief and / or rural rate relief. This will be a one-off grant of £10,000 to eligible ratepayers to help meet their ongoing business costs. Find out more

If you currently receive Small Business Rate Relief, please register for your Small Business grant:

The personal information collected from you will be used to prevent fraud. Deliberate manipulation and fraud, will not be accepted and would face potential prosecution and funding claw back. Please view Fair Processing Notice for COVID-19 related grants

We understand that many of you are worried and might be confused about what help is available, which businesses are eligible and how you access it. You may find some of your questions answered in these national FAQs [166.41KB]

Grant for businesses in receipt of the Expanded Retail Discount (which covers retail, hospitality and leisure businesses)

The package includes grant funding of up to £25,000 for businesses in receipt of the Expanded Retail Discount (which covers retail, hospitality and leisure businesses) which, as at 11 March 2020, have a property with a rateable value of less than £51,000. The guidance states that:

For businesses in these sectors with a rateable value of up to and including £15,000, they will receive a grant of £10,000
For businesses in these sectors with a rateable value over £15,000 and less than £51,000, they will receive a grant of £25,000

Register for a grant for businesses in receipt of the Expanded Retail Discount (which covers retail, hospitality and leisure businesses)

Business Rates Holiday for Early Years Nurseries

You do not need to contact us as nurseries in England will not have to pay any business rates for the 2020/21 financial year. The relief will be automatically awarded and a recalculated bill will be sent to you. Where any adjustments result in an account going into credit, a refund will be issued as soon as possible. Find out more about Business Rates holiday for nurseries

Business Rates Holiday for Retail, Hospitality and Leisure

You do not need to contact us as eligible businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors in England will not have to pay business rates for the 2020-21 tax year. The relief will be automatically awarded and a recalculated bill will be sent to you. Where any adjustments result in an account going into credit, a refund will be issued as soon as possible.

Properties that will benefit from the relief will be occupied hereditaments that are wholly or mainly being used:

as shops, restaurants, cafes, drinking establishments, cinemas and live music venues
for assembly and leisure
as hotels, guest & boarding premises and self-catering accommodation

For further details of eligible premises Find out more about Business Rates Holiday for Retail, Hospitality and Leisure

Further Covid-19 Business Information and Support

For further business information and support in response to Covid-19 Find out more about Business Information and Support

Enquiries

You can now view your business rate account on-line by registering for an on-line account:

If you have any enquiries about your business rates bill, please contact the Non-Domestic Rating Section on 0300 303 8588 between 8:30am and 5:00pm Monday to Friday

Email Business Rates

Address for correspondence:

Business Rates Section
Mendip District Council
Cannards Grave Road
Shepton Mallet
BA4 5BT

Business Rates General Information

Business rates is a local tax that is paid by the occupiers of all non-domestic /business property, in the same way that council tax is a tax on domestic property. Business rates are charged on most business properties such as shops, offices, pubs, warehouses and factories. However, the property doesn't have to be used for a business - if it is used for purposes which are not domestic it is likely to be rateable. We will send you a business rates bill each year.

My Business Rates Account

Paying Your Business Rates

Details on how to pay your Non Domestic Rates (Business Rates)

How Business Rates Are Worked Out

Apart from properties that are exempt from business rates, each non-domestic property has a rateable value which is set by officers of the Valuation Office Agency (VOA), an agency of Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs. They draw up and maintain a full list of all rateable values.

Rate Relief

There are a range of reductions available to business ratepayers.

Business Rates Frequently Requested Information

The most frequently requested information relates to empty properties.

Revaluation 2017

The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) has now updated the rateable values of all business properties.

Scam Alerts

Scams are schemes to con you out of your money. Look for signs to watch out for if you look after someone who could be vulnerable to scams