Information on Business Rates

At the Autumn Statement on 22 November 2023, the Chancellor announced that eligible ratepayers will receive 75% relief on their business rates bills for the year 2024/25 up to a maximum cash cap of £110,000.

In line with the conditions set by the government, a ratepayer may only claim up to £110,000 of support under the 2024/25 Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Relief Scheme for all of their eligible hereditaments. This cash cap applies at a Group company level (so holding companies and subsidiaries cannot claim up to the cash cap for each company) and also to organisations which, although not a company, have such an interest in a company that they would, if they were a company, result in its being the holding company.

Furthermore, the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Relief Scheme is subject to the Minimal Financial Assistance limits under the Subsidy Control Act. This means no recipient can receive over £315,000 over a three-year period (consisting of the current financial year and the two previous financial years). Covid business grants received from local government and any other subsidy claimed under the Minimal Financial Assistance or Small Amounts of Financial Assistance limit over the three-year period should be counted.

Therefore, to claim the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure relief you must not have exceeded either the £110,000 cash cap for 2024/25 or the Minimal Financial Assistance limit of £315,000 over three years (including 2024/25). Find further details of the cash cap and subsidy control.

If the following applies to you, please complete all questions (accepting the relief and declaring that you comply with the cash cap and exemption threshold) and return it to the address above:

• you (or if appropriate a company in your Group) have received the 2024/25 Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Relief Scheme support on any other property but to a level below the £110,000 cash cap. You should list the other Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Relief being granted for premises other than the one to which this bill relates, and
• you (or if appropriate a company in your Group) have not received more than the Minimal Financial Assistance limit of £315,000 over three years (including 2024/25). If appropriate you should list the other subsidies you have received.

If the following applies to you, please complete question 1 and 2 (refusing the relief) and return it to the address above:

• you have exceeded the cash cap on other properties, or
• you have received more than the Minimal Financial Assistance limit of £315,000 over three years (including 2024/25).

The government and City of Lincoln Council will not tolerate any business falsifying their records or providing false evidence to gain this discount, including claiming support above the cash cap or the exemption threshold. A ratepayer who falsely applies for any relief, or provides false information or makes false representation in order to gain relief may be guilty of fraud under the Fraud Act 2006.

We encourage you to seek independent legal advice in respect of this matter if you are at all unsure as to the contents.

Return the completed form via email to: revenues@lincoln.gov.uk

Or post it to:

PO Box 1257
Lincoln
LN5 5PQ