|  News
and Information from ASR - Rate Year April 2006.
The
second year of the 2005 Rating List started on 1st April 2006
and the new multipliers for the year that were provisionally
announced by the ODPM (Office of the Deputy Prime Minister)
are confirmed.
Non
Domestic Rating legislation does allow for the ODPM to increase
the multiplier by more than the rate of inflation - this is
to allow for revenue lost as a result of successful rating
appeals. This year however, the multiplier (sometimes known
as the UBR - Uniform Business Rate) has simply been increased
in line with the rate of inflation: 2.7%
Multipliers
The
Non Domestic Rating Multipliers for England in the rate year
2006/07 are...
| Non
Domestic Rating Multiplier |
0.433 |
| Small
Business Non Domestic Rating Multiplier |
0.426 |
| City
of London Supplement |
0.004 |
Small
Business Rate Relief
The
Small Business Rate Relief (SBRR) scheme continues. Those
ratepayers that qualify MUST apply to the local authority
for this relief - it is not automatic. To qualify you must
occupy only *ONE property in England and the Rateable Value
of that property must be less than 15,000 (or 21,500 in Greater
London). Current rules dictate that you must apply each year.
To
reduce the administrative burden on small businesses, the
government plan to amend legislation so that qualifying ratepayers
need only apply once for any five year period - however this
amendment is not yet in operation and ratepayers MUST apply
for the rate year 2006/07
*When
assessing the number of properties occupied, any additional
properties - such as a store or car parking space - may be
disregarded if the RV is less than 2,200 and the total of
all RV's is less than 15,000 (or 21,500 in Greater London).
Scottish
Rating
Scottish
Rate Liability has been reformed from 2006/07 in a two stage
scheme to bring the Scottish Multiplier in line with the English
Multiplier. Finance and Public Service Reform Minister Tom
McCabe said the country's businesses would benefit from a
substantial reduction in poundage from April 1st 2006, and
a further cut from April 1st 2007, to bring Scotland's poundage
into line with England.
Mr.
McCabe said: "Growing
the economy is our top priority. The Executive wants to create
an environment where all businesses - large and small - can
thrive. We have listened to what businesses have had to say
and decided to bring Scotland's poundage in line with England.
With rateable values that are on average lower than England,
this move goes further than creating a level playing field
for Scottish businesses. It will give Scotland's businesses
a competitive advantage over counterparts in England."
The
Scottish multipliers for 2006/07 are...
| Non
Domestic Rating Multiplier |
0.449 |
| Supplement
for RV’s over 29,000 |
0.004 |
| Relief
for Properties RV 11,500 and under |
5% |
Note:
Ratepayers with properties in both England and Scotland should
be aware that the Scottish and English rating appeal systems
differ greatly and care should be taken when choosing a rating
advisor to ascertain that they have the necessary expertise
and experience to deal with both systems. It may be advisable
to instruct a different advisor for each area.
|
Adrian
Smith is a Rating Surveyor with over 25 years experience
in representing and advising ratepayers. He has an in
depth knowledge from both sides of the fence as he has
spent much of his working life with the Valuation Office
Agency as well as representing private sector business
and acting as consultant to professional
property firms.
He
has the knowledge, experience and technical expertise
to advise on all aspects of rate liability including
valuation, the application of transitional arrangements,
rating appeals, material change of circumstance, temporary
allowances, empty property rate, section 44a relief,
transitional certificates, charitable and other reliefs,
as well as acting on your behalf in an appeal against
your rateable value and representing you at valuation
tribunal.
If
you are a ratepayer or a property professional and require
advice on rating matters it is essential that you consult
a rating specialist.
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