Supporting Small Business Scheme
2023 Supporting Small Business Scheme
This scheme announced in the November 2022 Autumn Statement was introduced to assist ratepayers who, because of the change in their rateable value at revaluation, were losing some or all of their small business rate relief or rural rate relief.
To qualify:
- Businesses should have received small business rate relief or rural rate relief in the 2022 to 2023 financial year; and
- Seen an increase in their rateable value from 1 April 2023; and
- Had a reduction in their small business rate relief or rural rate relief from 1 April 2023; and
- Seen their business rates bill increase by more than £600 per year from 1 April 2023
The scheme will be in place between 2023/2024 and 2025/2026.
Each year increases in business rates bills for eligible businesses will be capped at £600.
The discount will end when the bill reaches the amount that would have been paid without the scheme or the property becomes vacant.
At the 2025 Autumn Budget, the government confirmed it was introducing a one-year extension of the 2023 Supporting Small Business scheme in 2026/2027.
2026 Supporting Small Business Scheme
This scheme announced in the 2025 Autumn Budget was introduced to assist ratepayers who, because of the change in their rateable value at revaluation, were losing some or all of their small business rate relief or rural rate relief. It has been expanded to ratepayers losing their RHL relief.
To qualify:
- Businesses should have received small business rate relief, rural rate relief or RHL relief in the 2025 to 2026 financial year; and
- Seen an increase in their rateable value from 1 April 2026; and
- Had a reduction in their small business rate relief or rural rate relief, or lost their RHL relief from 1 April 2026; and
- Seen their business rates bill increase by more than £800 per year from 1 April 2026
The scheme will be in place between 2026/2027 and 2028/2029.
Each year increases in business rates bills for eligible businesses will be capped at £800.
The discount will end when the bill reaches the amount that would have been paid without the scheme.
All ratepayers who are eligible to receive this relief for the new annual bills for 2026/2027 have been identified.
