The Chancellor has announced measures that will cover and provide additional Small Business Grant Scheme funding for local authorities to help small businesses that already pay little or no business rates due to small business rate relief (SBRR), rural rate relief (RRR) and tapered relief. The government will provide a one-off grant of £10,000 to eligible businesses to meet their ongoing day-to-day costs.
Businesses are eligible if:
- based in England
- occupy a property
- receiving small business rate relief or rural rate relief as of 11 March
Businesses do not need to do anything to access the scheme. The local authority will write to businesses if they are eligible for this grant. Any enquiries on eligibility for, or provision of, the reliefs and grants should be directed to the relevant council.
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Support for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses that pay business rates
HMRC will introduce a business rates holiday for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses in England for the 2020 to 2021 tax year.
Eligibility:
- Business is based in England;
- Business is in the retail, hospitality and/or leisure sector.
Properties that can benefit from the relief are occupied properties that are wholly or mainly being used:
- as shops, restaurants, cafes, drinking establishments, cinemas and live music venues;
- for assembly and leisure;
- for hospitality, as hotels, guest & boarding premises or self-catering accommodation.
There is no action to take to access the scheme. However, local authorities may have to reissue their bill to provide this support. They will do this as soon as possible. Businesses can estimate their business rate charge using the business rates calculator.
