Guidance

Check if your retail, hospitality or leisure business is eligible for business rates relief due to coronavirus (COVID-19)

We have introduced a business rates holiday for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses.

• From: Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (2018 to 2021)
• Published: 18 March 2020

Applies to England

• Guidance for Northern Ireland
• Guidance for Scotland
• Guidance for Wales

Businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors in England will not have to pay business rates for the 2020 to 2021 tax year.

Eligibility

You’re eligible if your property is a:

• shop
• restaurant, café, bar or pub
• cinema or live music venue
• assembly or leisure property - for example, a sports club, a gym or a spa
• hospitality property - for example, a hotel, a guest house or self-catering accommodation

How to apply

You do not need to take any action. Your local council will apply the discount automatically.

You can estimate the business rate relief using the business rates calculator.

Contact your local council if you’re not getting a relief you think you’re entitled to.

When it applies

The relief will apply to your business rates bills for the 2020 to 2021 tax year. Your local council may have to reissue your bill, but will do this as soon as possible.

Published 18 March 2020