Monthly Archives: June 2021

Hot Business News Today

Do I need to pay business rates working from home?

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Originally written by Timothy Adler on Small Business
At the height of the first wave of the pandemic last April, nearly half of the working population were working from home. Since then we’ve had a succession of lockdowns, with the government now encouraging people to stay WFH until July 19 2021 and possibly beyond. But do you have to pay business rates if you’re working from home?
For freelancers, sole traders and the self-employed, not much has changed. But others new to home working will be asking which taxes they do have to pay, including business rates.
Do I need to pay business rates working from home?
You do not usually have to pay business rates for home-based businesses if you:

Use a small part of your home for your business, for example if you use a bedroom as an office
Sell goods by post

You may need to pay business rates as well as Council Tax if:

Your property is part business and part domestic, for example, if you live above your shop
You sell goods or services to people who visit your property
You employ other people to work at your property
You’ve made changes to your home for your business, for example converted a garage into a beauty

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Hot Business News Today

How can I reduce my business rates in England? A small business guide

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Originally written by Timothy Adler on Small Business
US president Benjamin Franklin famously wrote that nothing in life is certain except death and taxes. However, there are some exemptions/reliefs if you want to reduce your business rates in England, which were first introduced in 1990 as property taxes paid by occupants of non-domestic properties, typically those occupying commercial and industrial premises.
What occupied properties are exempt from business rates?
You also may not have to pay business rates on:

Agricultural land and buildings, including fish farms
Buildings used for training or welfare of disabled people
Buildings registered for public religious worship or church halls

If your property is in England, you can report that you think it should be exempt using the Valuation Office Agency service.
>See also: Do I need to pay business rates working from home?
What exemptions for empty properties can I claim in England?
The government recognises that some premises do not have to pay business rates.
Empty properties
You do not have to pay business rates on empty office and retail buildings for three months. For industrial premises, the period of relief is six months. After this time, most businesses must pay full business rates.
A change of ownership during the three-month period does not trigger a fresh

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