Business Rates (valuation, arrears, refunds etc)

Business Rates General Information

Providing local business with information on how Business Rates are calculated for a property (valuation), what happens if you fail to pay and how to claim an overpayment.

The local authority collects business rates on behalf of the Government. Your Rates Bill is calculated by multiplying the rateable value by the multiplier, or Uniform Business Rate which is 0.462 (or 0.458 if you have received Small Business Rates Relief).

Eligibility
The occupier of a non-domestic property normally pays the Business Rates – usually this is the owner-occupier or leaseholder. If a property is empty, the owner or leaseholder will have to pay the full charge after a free period of either 3 or 6 months depending on the type of property.

The Valuation Office (Inland Revenue) is responsible for setting the Rateable Value of each property (Hereditament) in England. The Rateable Value (RV) is revalued every five years in a Nationwide revaluation. The next one is due in 2010.

If you think your RV is wrong you can appeal to the Valuation Office (VO) see the Explanation Notes for more information. You can also appeal if there has been a material change to your property (demolished, major roadworks, change in use, structural change and so on).

If you fall into arrears with your Business Rates we will take further action in line with our recovery programme. Please see our Collection Policy for further details, it always advisable to speak to us as soon as you fall into difficulty.

If you overpay your Business Rates, or your bill is reduced due a reduction in valuation we will refund the money on receipt of a completed claim form, please download and return it.

Required Customer Information
Please provide your account number when contacting this office, we also need the address of the property and the person or company responsible for the business rates (the occupier). If you have any questions please contact us directly.

Service Level Agreement and Turnaround
We aim to deal with your request within ten days but this may not be possible at peak times.

More information about this service

Contact Us

Frequently asked questions

Address:
PO Box 63
Civic Centre
Silver Street
Enfield
EN1 3XW
Map

Telephone:
020 8379 4766
020 8379 1000 (for automated business rates information 24 hours a day)

Fax:
020 8379 5191

Textphone:
020 8379 4998

Opening Hours:

Phones:
Monday to Friday
9.00am to 4.30pm

Helpdesks: Civic Centre and John Wilkes House

Principal Revenue Information Outlet:
John Wilkes House
79 High Street
Ponders End
Enfield EN3 4EN
Map

Monday to Friday
9.00am to 4.00pm

For picking up forms and handing in documents, you can also visit:
Edmonton Centre (1st Floor above the Library,)
36-44 South Mall,
Edmonton,
London, N9 0TN
Map

Monday to Friday:
8:30am to 5:00pm

Useful Links

Communities and Local Government

Government Advice Site

Valuation Office