Expanded Retail Discount
On 3 March 2021, the government announced in the Budget that eligible ratepayers will receive a discount on their business rates bills for the 2021/22 financial year of 100% for the first three months and 66% for the remainder of the year.
Relief will therefore be provided to certain eligible occupied retail, hospitality, and leisure properties in 2021/22. This also includes nurseries who received relief under the Nursery Discount scheme.
The decision of the council in your case is to award 100% relief for the period 1 April 2021 until 30 June 2021. The Council will award a further 66% relief for the remainder of the financial year providing all eligibility criteria is met. Further details are outlined below.
Whilst your current rates bill currently shows 100% relief, it should be noted that this information defines the Council’s decision, and your bill will therefore be recalculated from 1 July 2021 for the remaining 2021/2022 period. A new bill will be issued to you at a later date, informing you of your new liability.
In line with the conditions set out by the government for the funding of this relief, ratepayers may, for the period from 1 July 2021 onwards, only claim up to £2 million of Expanded Retail Discount in 2021/22 for hereditaments which, based on the coronavirus rules as of 5 January, would have been required to close (and £105,000 for other eligible properties). This is up to a cap of £2 million for all properties. This cash cap applies at Group company level (so holding companies and subsidiaries cannot claim up to the cash cap for each company).
If you have either exceeded the cash cap on other properties or wish to refuse the Expanded Retail Discount or Nursery Discount granted in relation to the premises to which this bill and letter relates, contact the NDR Team at ndr@nuneatonandbedworth.gov.uk. This may be particularly relevant to those premises that are part of a large chain, where the cumulative total of Expanded Retail Discount received could exceed the cash cap.
The government and Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council will not tolerate any business falsifying their records or providing false evidence to gain this discount, including claiming support above the cash cap. A ratepayer who falsely applies for any relief or provides false information or makes false representation to gain relief may be guilty of fraud under the Fraud Act 2006.