Worthing businesses urged to claim rate relief - 28/06/2009

Businesses in Worthing are being urged to claim rate relief by Worthing Borough Council.  Out of 460 businesses who received letters from the council in March telling them they could be eligible, 261 have claimed and received a total of £247,000 back.  That leaves 175 businesses who haven’t claimed and could be missing out on up to 50 per cent in rate relief. 

Come on, get your fingers out... There's rate reductions out there, you just need to ask for them.

Over the last three years nearly £2million in rate relief has gone to 1206 businesses in the borough.   Funding for the scheme comes from central government and is managed by local councils. 

The Government introduced the national discount scheme for small businesses in 2005.  Any business with a rateable value under £15,000 could be eligible for rate relief. 

Cabinet member for improved customer services Mary Lermitte said:  “If you received a letter about claiming rate relief in March this year and haven’t done anything about it, you could be seriously missing out .  The council wants to ensure that any business entitled to rate relief receives it. “

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