This is clearly a challenging time for all businesses and at South Somerset District Council we are committed to doing all we can to support businesses through the current crisis.
A number of measures have been put in place by the government and it is possible you may qualify for help from one or more of the following:
• Cash Grants are available, please see the below table:
| Current Relief Entitlement |
Rateable Value |
Grant Available |
| Small Business Rate Relief |
Up to £15,000 |
£10,000 |
| Rural Rate Relief |
Up to £12,500 |
£10,000 |
| Retail Relief |
Up to £15,000 |
£10,000 |
| Retail Relief |
£15,001 - £51,000 |
£25,000 |
• A business rates holiday for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses for the 2020 to 2021 tax year.
• A business rates holiday for nurseries in England for the 2020 to 2021 tax year.
Our aim is to get the grants to those entitled as soon as we can. To aid us in this we have set up an evidence upload page on our website at
https://www.southsomerset.gov.uk/your-council/coronavirus-advice-for-businesses-employers-and-employees/. The evidence upload facility is live and can be accessed at any time. If you think you may be entitled, please visit this site and upload photos of:
- your business rate bill
- latest bank statement
- your full name including any middle names
- your date of birth
- your VAT registration number (if you are registered for VAT)
- your company number (if you are a limited company)
- Your Business name (as registered with Companies House)
- Confirmation of your business address
If you wish to check your rateable value or the current description of your premises, this can be done here at
https://www.gov.uk/correct-your-business-rates
We are in the process of awarding business rates relief to those entitled to receive it and revised bills will be issued week commencing 6 April 2020. We amended our system and if you pay by direct debit we should not have collected your direct debit payment that was due on 1 April 2020. If payment has been taken and you don’t believe it should have been, or if you have already made a payment for the April installment by another means then please let us know. When we are able to process the refund for you we will contact you by phone and take your bank details in order for the payment to be refunded by bacs
We will post updates on our social media channels and our website on grant payments, revised bills and any other support we will be providing for businesses, together with signposting to other sources of business support
https://www.southsomerset.gov.uk/your-council/coronavirus-advice-for-businesses-employers-and-employees/
Finally, we are in regular conversations with the government concerning all aspects of the coronavirus and its impacts including on businesses. If there is any more assistance you think we, government or other agencies should be providing, please do let us know and we will endeavour to take this forward.