The Government announced in the Budget on 27 October 2021 a new Business Rates relief scheme for Retail, Hospitality and Leisure properties for the 2022/23 financial year.
Eligible businesses will receive 50% relief for the period 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023.
There will be a cap on the amount of relief any one business can receive across all of its assessments.
- £110,000 per business for other eligible properties
Who will qualify?
Assessments that are wholly or mainly being used as:
i. as shops, restaurants, cafes, drinking establishments, cinemas and live music venues,
ii. For assembly and leisure; or
iii. As hotels, guest and boarding premises and self-catering accommodation
Who will not qualify?
Assessments that are wholly or mainly being used for the following services to visiting members of the public.
- Financial services (eg banks, building societies, cash points, bureaux de change, short-term loan providers, betting shops)
- Medical services (eg vets, dentists, doctors, osteopaths, chiropractors)
- Professional services (eg solicitors, accountants, insurance agents/ financial advisers, employment agencies, estate agents, letting agents)
- Post office sorting offices
- Assessments that are not reasonably accessible to visiting members of the public
The above list is not exhaustive and it is up to the local authority to determine if any additional properties are being used for similar non qualifying uses.
Further information regarding eligibility criteria and the cash cap can be located at GOV.UK - 2022/23 Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Relief Scheme: local authority guidance.
Bedford Council will have awarded the relief to those assessments it deems to qualify. If you haven’t been awarded the relief but think you may qualify, you should let the business rates team know.
If you have received the relief but do not meet the relevant cash cap, you can opt out of the scheme and must advise the business rates team as soon as possible.
How to apply or opt out of the scheme
The easiest and quickest way to apply or opt out of the scheme is to do it online.
You can register for an online account and upload your application or contact us by using your citizen account. Alternatively, you can upload your application without registration through the 'upload a document online' facility below.
Register for a Business Rates account
You can now register for an online Business Rates account which will allow you to:
- view your up to date account information
- check your balance, payments and bills
- switch to paperless billing
- update your contact details
to register for an online account you will need your account number as it appears on your Business Rates bill or recovery notice, plus one of the items from the following:
- The postcode for your business property
- The last 3 digits of a telephone number you have already registered with us
- The last 3 digits of your bank account number if you pay by Direct Debit
You can also use the registration process to let us know if you would like to switch to paperless billing.
Register for an online Business Rates account
Sign in to your online Business Rates account
If you already have an online Business Rates account you can sign in here:
Sign in to your online Business Rates account
Upload a document online
You can now upload documents online (eg lease agreement) relating to your Business Rates. You will need to provide your property postcode, your Business Rates account number as it appears on your latest bill or recovery notice and a way to contact you (phone number or email address).
