Rates relief
The Small Business Rates Relief Scheme is fully funded by the Assembly Government.
We fund business rate relief for around small businesses across Wales. Our approach is to target resources to those businesses in most need, in particular small businesses, including shops, post offices, registered childminders and credit unions throughout Wales.
In response to the current economic difficulties the Minister for Social Justice and Local Government announced that from 1 April 2010, for one year, the threshold at which empty properties would become liable to pay business rates would be increased from £2,200 to £18,000.
Local authorities also have discretionary powers to grant hardship relief to businesses if they believe that it is in the interests of the local community to do so. We fund 75 per cent of all hardship relief.
You can find out more about council tax and rating issues, particularly the discounts and reliefs you may be entitled to from your local authority; or alternatively the Local Government Finance Division of the Welsh Assembly Government on 0845 0103300.
