Business Rates (National Non-Domestic Rates) are a Government tax on property which is not used for domestic accommodation.
Business Rates are payable on most non-domestic property. If a property is used both for living accommodation and running a business, for example a public house or a shop with a flat above, then both Council Tax and Business Rates will normally be payable.
The tax is assessed by an agency of H.M. Revenue & Customs called the Valuation Office Agency which compiles a 'list' every five years which shows the address, description and Rateable Value of every assessment within the Wakefield Council area.
The local authority is responsible for billing, collecting and enforcement of Business Rates, which we then pay into a National Non-Domestic Rating Pool. The amount collected by the pool is then redistributed back to local authorities on a per capita basis.
This grant, plus income from the Council Tax and other sources is used to help pay for the services which we at Wakefield Council provide, together with services such as the Police, Fire, Public Transport and Flood Defences.
See 'Downloads' for information on the Business Rates Information 2012-2013
