Just found out this little pearler albeit a few years too late. If you are the sole proprietor of a business (as I was) you could be entitled to 50% off your business rates. My aunts other half just found out and he has contacted the relevent department and yes, they have cut his rates and backdated the claim til April. My aunt however is in partnership in her shop and isn't entitled to 50% off. I was a sole proprietor for years and I struggled to pay over £200 per month business rates. I paid an accountant a ridiculous sum and he didn't advise me of this. When things got tough, as they sometimes do, and I got the occasional Court Summons for being 3 days late paying the rates, even after phoning the Rates people and begging for a little bit more time because I was trying to run a business by myself they still didn't advise me that I could apply for a 50% reduction. I feel so angry that I can't get any of the money I overpaid back. Crippling rates were one of the reasons I ended up closing my business. :mad::mad: So, if you are a sole proprietor it's definately worth looking into, especially with what looks like a sticky few months coming up. ;);)
Just found out this little pearler albeit a few years too late. If you are the sole proprietor of a business (as I was) you could be entitled to 50% off your business rates. My aunts other half just found out and he has contacted the relevent department and yes, they have cut his rates and backdated the claim til April. My aunt however is in partnership in her shop and isn't entitled to 50% off. I was a sole proprietor for years and I struggled to pay over £200 per month business rates. I paid an accountant a ridiculous sum and he didn't advise me of this. When things got tough, as they sometimes do, and I got the occasional Court Summons for being 3 days late paying the rates, even after phoning the Rates people and begging for a little bit more time because I was trying to run a business by myself they still didn't advise me that I could apply for a 50% reduction. I feel so angry that I can't get any of the money I overpaid back. Crippling rates were one of the reasons I ended up closing my business. :mad::mad: So, if you are a sole proprietor it's definately worth looking into, especially with what looks like a sticky few months coming up. ;);)
Hello Vmax it's best to check every little detail before you startup because there is so many costs that you may not think of at the time it is unreal, it has certainly been a real eyeopener for me that is for sure.
I asked The council to send me a booklet detailing all the costs and everything else that i needed to know about them.
Mark