Business rates - explanatory notes
Non-domestic rates, or business rates, collected by local authorities, are the way that those who occupy non-domestic property contribute towards the cost of local services.
Under the business rates retention arrangements introduced from 1 April 2013, authorities keep a proportion of the business rates paid locally.
The money, together with revenue from council tax payers, locally generated income and grants from central government, is used to pay for the services provided by local authorities in your area.
Further information about the business rates system may found on the government website.