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Business Rates

What are Business Rates?

Business Rate is a tax on business properties that helps to pay for the borough's services. It is also called the National Non-Domestic Rate.

Business Rates are pooled by Central Government and redistributed to local authorities as part of the annual formula grant settlement. The money, together with revenue from council tax payers, revenue support grant provided by the Government and certain other sums, is used to pay for the services provided by this authority.

This system will begin to change from 1 April 2018, as Central Government plans to make councils self-sufficient from local revenues in the ongoing Fair Funding Review (external link).

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Business rates devolution

From 1 April, all 33 London local authorities and the Greater London Authority will derive a greater proportion of their funding from business rates raised locally.  London councils will no longer receive Revenue Support Grant, the main grant distributed to English local authorities by the government.

What is changing?

Haringey will be participating in the London-wide Business Rates Retention Pilot for 2018/19.  This means that the London boroughs and Greater London Authority will retain 100% of all growth in London’s business rates revenue, rather than giving 50% to Central Government as presently.

This change will maintain the council’s expected revenue, while enabling the council to retain a greater proportion of the growth in Haringey’s business rates revenue.  Haringey will retain 60% of growth in business rates paid by local businesses, with the remaining 40% going to the GLA to fund London-wide projects.

What does this mean for my business?

There will be no practical change to the way business rates are collected – the council will remain responsible for collecting rates by 1 April each year.  Central Government also retains the power to set the rateable value of your business premises.

The change is an opportunity for the council and businesses to work together and invest more of your business rates in local economic growth, business priorities and communities. A growing, successful business community with a skilled local workforce will mean more money in the long-term to invest in local services and infrastructure for residents and businesses.

Where can I find out more?

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How we work out your Business Rates

The Council works out your Business Rate bill by multiplying the Rateable Value (see Revaluation 2017 and Transitional Arrangements) of the property by the rate multiplier or ‘poundage’, which the Government sets from the 1 April each year.

There are two multipliers. For properties which qualify for small business rate relief the multiplier for 2018/19 has been set at 48.0p in the pound. For properties which do not qualify, the multiplier has been set at 49.3p in the pound, which includes a supplement to pay for small business rate relief.

For details of the multipliers for previous years, please see Business Rate Multipliers.

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Business Rate Relief

Some organisations can receive a discount on their business rates, also known as Business rates relief.  There are a number of local and national schemes that may apply to your business or organisation.

National relief schemes

Some relief schemes are determined by the Government and have to be applied in the same way across all local councils in the country. This includes small business rates relief, empty property relief and mandatory relief for registered charities and community amateur sports clubs.

More information about these and how to apply can be found on the Government website (external link).

Local relief schemes

Local councils can also set out their own policy for giving relief on business rates in addition to those set by the Government. This is called ‘discretionary relief’.

Haringey has two discretionary policies.

  • Discretionary Business Rates Relief Policy (PDF, 450KB)
    This includes additional relief for some voluntary and community sector organisations, relief for occupants of new office and workspace, and relief for some meanwhile activities.
  • Business Rates Relief Revaluation Support Policy (PDF, 333KB)
    This is specific to small, medium-sized and independent businesses facing increases in their business rate bills as a result of the national revaluation, which took effect from 1 April 2017. Government has allocated Haringey £2.08 million of extra funding which will be used to lessen the impact of increases for eligible businesses under the local scheme. The local scheme includes a 42% discount on the increase generated by the 2017 rates revaluation.

More information about whether your business or organisation might be eligible and how to apply for discretionary relief.

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How to pay

You can pay your business rates online.

To make payments by Direct Debit, please download and complete the Business Rates Direct Debit instruction (PDF, 28KB). Alternatively, you may set up a direct debit by phoning us on 020 8489 1700.

Telephone

Using the automated telephone payment service on 0300 4560520, select option 4 for Business Rates. You will be asked to quote your business rate account number shown on the front of your bill.

BACS transfer, online and telephone banking

You can make a payment by BACS transfer using online banking or telephone banking. Quote Haringey's bank account number 93236218, sort code 20-98-47, and your full nine digit business rate account number shown on the front of your bill.

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Business Rate Supplement (Crossrail BRS)

The Greater London Authority (GLA) introduced a Business Rate Supplement (BRS) in April 2010 to finance £4.1 billion of the costs of the £14.5 billion Crossrail project.

What is Crossrail and how will it benefit your business?

Crossrail will connect the outer suburbs and Heathrow to the West End, City and Canary Wharf. It is vital to the future of London’s economy. The increased earnings it will bring – from new jobs and quicker journeys – will benefit businesses across London. It will be named the Elizabeth line upon full opening in honour of Queen Elizabeth II.

The single largest investment in London’s infrastructure for decades, it has employed up to 14,000 people at the peak of construction. The new Crossrail trains are currently in operation on a section of the route from Liverpool Street to Shenfield. Furthermore a significant milestone has been reached as the permanent track for the Elizabeth line has been completed. Crossrail services are due to commence through central London by the end of 2018 with full opening of the line by December 2019.

To find out more:

Developments in the Construction and Financing of Crossrail

The Mayor of London agreed a settlement with government in October 2010 for the Crossrail route and secured investment to upgrade the Tube. Crossrail is now being built at its key sites across London.

In April 2012 the Mayor introduced a community infrastructure planning (CIL) levy on new developments in London to finance Crossrail. This is paid for by the developer. Find out more on the GLA website (external link).

How will London's Businesses Help Fund Crossrail?

The Crossrail BRS is being used to finance £4.1billion of the costs of the project. Of this around £3.3billion has been borrowed with the remaining £0.8billion being funded directly using BRS revenues. It will need to be levied until the GLA's borrowing is repaid. This is expected to be some time in the 2030s.

Does My Business Have to Pay the Crossrail BRS?

Your rates bill makes clear if you are liable to pay the BRS. The Crossrail BRS is applied only to assessments (for example business and other non-domestic premises) with a rateable value of over £70,000 on the local rating lists of the 32 London boroughs and City of London Corporation. Around 85 per cent of non-domestic properties in London will be exempt from the BRS in 2018/19 due to this threshold.

How Much Do I Pay if My Property's Rateable Value is Above £70,000?

The Crossrail BRS multiplier for 2018/19 remains at 2p per pound of rateable value. Reliefs for the Crossrail BRS will apply on the same basis and at the same percentage rate as for your National Non Domestic Rates (NNDR) bill. However no transitional relief is provided for the BRS.

Keeping You Up to Date

We will give ratepayers an annual update over the lifetime of the BRS.

Contact for Further Information

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Contact Us

Shared Service Centre | Revenues
Business Rates (Haringey)
PO Box 55280
London
N22 9EN

Tel 020 8489 1700
Email business.rates@haringey.gov.uk

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Annual business rates

You can also see our Council Tax Guides on the Council Tax Bands and Charges page.

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Contact us / Get involved

Visit the contact page for more information on how to contact the council, get involved in local community activities and to tell us what you think of our services.

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Page Last Updated:

9 July 2018

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