What are Business Rates?

Business Rates or Non-Domestic Rates, as they are sometimes known, are a tax payable for all occupied and some unoccupied business premises.

Business Rates are payable to the Council who collect them on behalf of the Government.

Business Rates (non-domestic rates) collected by billing authorities are paid into a central pool and redistributed to billing authorities and major precepting authorities.

Wolverhampton's share of re-distributed rate income, together with income from its Council Taxpayers, revenue support grant provided by the Government and certain other sums, is used to pay for the services provided by the Council and other local authorities in the local area.

Information previously available at www.mybusinessrates.gov.uk has now been moved to the Business Link website. This site brings together information from several sources on Business Rates liability.   

Details of the total cost of services including Police and Fire Authorities can be found in Council Tax 2008-2009.