Business and investment Business rates relief and exemptions

Small business rate relief

This is based on the rateable value (RV) of your property.

It is aimed at helping small businesses that have not already received mandatory relief.

If you are a registered charity or sports club that is not receiving mandatory relief, check if you are eligible for mandatory relief before applying for small business rate relief.

If you are eligible for mandatory relief, you will not be eligible for small business rate relief and will be charged at the standard multiplier rate.

Who can apply

Businesses that occupy only one property in England and have an RV of less than £15,000. Your business may also qualify if you occupy one main property and other additional properties, providing that: 

  • the additional properties do not have individual RVs of more than £2,899, and
  • the combined RV of all the properties is under £20,000.

If you qualify when you occupy more than one property, you can only be granted relief on the main property. You will continue to receive the relief for 12 months even if you take on an extra property that increases the RV past £20,000.

Small business rate relief is funded by a supplement paid by other businesses.  Even if you are not entitled to the relief, you will not have to pay the supplement if your property has a rateable value above £15,000 but below £51,000.

How much relief you'll get

Properties with an RV:

  • of up to £12,000 will receive 100 per cent relief  
  • between £12,000 and £15,000 receive tapered relief which reduces from 100 per cent at £12,000 to 0 per cent at £15,000.
Was this page helpful?

Fields marked * cannot be left blank

Feedback submitted to us on this form is monitored but you won’t receive a reply. In an emergency, visit our emergency contact details page. Please don't include any personal or financial information, for example your National Insurance or credit card numbers.