Expanded Retail Discount 2020/21
The Government has made changes to the Retail Discount
- There is no upper limit (previously only assessments below RV £51000 qualified)
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The relief for 2020/21 is 100% (after other reliefs). Previously 50% relief
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EU commission permission sort to remove state aid qualification
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To qualify
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Occupied property that is used wholly or mainly for
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Shops, restaurants, cafés, drinking establishments, live music venues and cinemas
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Assembly or leisure use
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Hotels, guest and boarding premises and self-catering accommodation
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Estate agents
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Properties closed temporarily due to COVID-19 should be treated as occupied and receive this relief
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The guide list of qualifying uses is provided at “Business Rates Expanded Retail Discount 2020/21: Coronavirus Response – Local Authority Guidance” March 2020. The guide list is not necessarily exhaustive.
Business Rates Pubs Discount
In response to COVID-19, the Government has increased the discount for pubs in rate payments for 2020/21 to £5,000 for property with rateable value below £100,000.
Business Rates Public Lavatories Relief
The Government will bring forward legislation as soon as possible in this session to provide mandatory 100% business rates relief for standalone public lavatories in England from April 2020.
Business Rates Local Newspaper Office Space Discount
The £1,500 business rates discount for office space used by local newspapers in England will be extended for an additional five years until 31st March 2025.
Business Rates Review
The Government intended in the Budget to launching a fundamental review of business rates. The Terms of Reference for this review are published alongside the Budget with a call for evidence will be published.