Request a refund for business rates

We can issue a refund when there is a valid credit balance on your account, such as:

• an overpayment
• an award of  a relief or exemption
• your rateable value has changed

Do I need to request a refund?

We have internal procedures to check for accounts in credit. These also identify as far as reasonably practicable, where customers have moved address within the borough. It enables a transfer any overpayment to their new account.

However, if your bill is in credit and you have not received a refund, please follow the 'Request a refund' instructions below.

Credit balances on open accounts

If you do not request a refund, we normally use the credit amount to reduce the balance on your account. This may not happen until a new bill is issued, due to a change in your circumstances. Or at annual billing when we issue a bill for the new year’s amounts. If you want to claim the refund earlier, please follow the 'Request a refund' instructions below. 

Transferring money from one Business Rates account to another

To transfer money between your own Business Rate accounts, please complete the refund form. If it is to another person's Business Rate account, then you will need to explain why. This may however require further information and may delay the request.

Credit balances due to a relief or exemption

We don't ordinarily issue a refund for credit balances which have occurred due to an award of a relief or exemption. Instead, we use the credit to reduce the balance on your account and send you a revised bill. The instalments will be adjusted accordingly. If you would prefer to receive a refund, please complete the refund form.

Am I entitled to interest on my overpayment?

Interest will only be considered if:

• an overpayment occurs due to a change in rateable value and/or rating assessment under 1st April 2023 local rating list, and
• a liability order has not been issued for late or unpaid business rates in respect of that year.

The amount of interest paid is prescribed by regulations. Due to low interest rates in recent years, interest has not been payable. However, from 1st April 23, interest on an eligible overpayment is calculated at 3% and from 1st April 24, it is 4.25%.  Where applicable, interest is taxed at source at a rate of 20%. Interest is not payable for any other type of overpayment, such as for an award of a reduction or relief for example. The rate of interest to be applied from 1st April 25, will be published as soon as it is confirmed.