The Scottish Government announced that the Uniform Business Rate for 2010/11 will be set at 40.7p. This is the rate by which an occupier’s rateable value is multiplied to arrive at their annual rates charge. An additional supplement of 0.7p will apply to larger subjects. Both figures remain in line with those rates applicable in England.

The Scottish Government has yet to commit whether a transitional relief scheme as applied during the 2005 Revaluation will be in place for 2010. The 2005 scheme ensured those ratepayers, who witnessed large increases in their Rateable Value as a result of the Revaluation, had their rates liability increase phased in over the first 3 years of the Revaluation.

For occupiers in England, draft Rateable Values were made available by the Valuation Office Agency in September 2009. Over the past 2 financial years, the Uniform Business Rate applied in England has been the same as that set in Scotland. In England a transitional relief scheme will apply in 2010 similar to that applied during the 2005 Revaluation.

For more information please contact Kenny McCormack