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✅ How to apply for business rates relief
2024/25 SBRR thresholds — England
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Based on 2024/25 England business rates thresholds. Estimates only — confirm with your local council. This tool covers England only. Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have different rules.
Apply for relief at gov.uk →
Business rates relief explained — UK guide (2024/25)
Business rates are a tax on commercial properties in England, calculated by multiplying your property's rateable value (RV) by the annual government multiplier. For 2024/25, the small business multiplier is 49.9p per £1 of rateable value and the standard multiplier is 54.6p.
Several relief schemes can dramatically reduce — or eliminate — your rates bill. Small Business Rate Relief (SBRR) gives 100% relief to single-property businesses with an RV at or below £12,000. The Retail, Hospitality & Leisure (RHL) discount provides 75% off for qualifying shops, cafes, pubs, and hospitality businesses, capped at £110,000 per year.
Many businesses are paying more than they need to. Estimates suggest hundreds of millions of pounds in unclaimed SBRR sit with local councils each year. Use this calculator to check your entitlement, then apply through your local billing authority — relief is rarely applied automatically.
Who qualifies for Small Business Rate Relief?
To qualify for SBRR you must: (1) occupy a single commercial property in England with an RV of £15,000 or less; or (2) occupy one main property and any additional properties each with an RV below £2,900. At or below £12,000 you pay nothing. Between £12,001 and £15,000, relief tapers down to zero.
How to reduce business rates legally
Check your eligibility for all relief schemes above. Consider whether your rateable value is correct — if the VOA has overvalued your property you can challenge it through the Check, Challenge, Appeal process at gov.uk. If you have multiple properties, review whether restructuring occupancy could enable SBRR on your main property.
Business rates FAQs
What is Small Business Rate Relief and who qualifies?
SBRR is available to businesses that occupy a single commercial property with a rateable value of £15,000 or less. 100% relief applies at or below £12,000 — no rates payable. Between £12,001 and £15,000, relief tapers on a sliding scale. Properties with an RV between £15,001 and £51,000 get the lower 49.9p small business multiplier, reducing the bill even without formal SBRR. You must apply to your local council — it is not automatically applied in most cases.
What is the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure discount?
The RHL discount provides 75% off business rates for qualifying retail, hospitality, and leisure properties in 2024/25, capped at £110,000 per business per year. Qualifying properties include shops, supermarkets, restaurants, cafes, pubs, bars, hotels, gyms, cinemas, theatres, and similar premises. The relief does not apply to offices, warehouses, or financial services. Most councils apply it automatically, but check your bill to confirm.
How do I find my rateable value?
Your rateable value is shown on your business rates bill. You can also look it up at
gov.uk/find-business-rates. The current rating list was compiled in April 2023, based on April 2021 rental values. If you believe your RV is too high, you can challenge it through the Check, Challenge, Appeal process with the Valuation Office Agency.
Do empty properties pay business rates?
Most commercial properties get 100% relief for the first 3 months empty (6 months for industrial properties). After that, the full rate applies. Some properties are exempt from rates while empty — including listed buildings and those with an RV below £2,900. Rates still apply even if the property is actively being marketed for let.
How do I apply for business rates relief?
Contact your local council's business rates team. You will need your rates account number (from your bill), your property address, and evidence of eligibility. Most councils have an online application form. Some reliefs like RHL are applied automatically, but SBRR and rural relief usually require an application. Always apply as early as possible — backdating relief is possible in some cases but not guaranteed.