Business rates

How to pay business rates, access your online business rates account and how to get your bills by email.

Coronavirus: support for business.

Spring Budget 2021

On the 3rd March 2021, the Chancellor announced a number of measure to support Businesses.

Expanded Retail Relief

The government will continue to provide eligible retail, hospitality and leisure properties in England with 100% business rates relief from 1 April 2021 to 30 June 2021. This will be followed by 66% business rates relief for the period from 1 July 2021 to 31 March 2022, capped at £2 million per business for properties that were required to be closed on 5 January 2021, or £105,000 per business for other eligible properties.

Nurseries will also qualify for relief in the same way as other eligible properties.

Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council will identify those businesses that are eligible for Retail Relief and will issue revised Business Rates Demand Notices in April 2021 for the 100% relief. A further bill will be issued mid-June 2021 detailing the 66% relief.

Should your business wish to opt out from the Retail Relief scheme in 2021, please email businessrates@blackburn.gov.uk with details of your account.

Pay business rates

You can pay your business rates in a number of different ways.

Online account

View your payment history, charges and payments for each year and copies of all your bills, reminders or summons.

Report a change or apply for a discount or exemption

Use our online forms to tell us about a change of address or to apply for a discount or exemption.

Business Rates, also known as Non Domestic Rates, are collected by Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council. They are the way that those who occupy non-domestic hereditaments (any property that can be inherited) contribute towards the cost of local services.

Under the Business Rates Retention arrangements introduced in April 2013, Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council now keep a proportion of the business rates paid locally. This money, along with revenue from Council Tax payers, government grants and certain other monies is used to pay for the services provided by the Council.

Business rates are payable on both occupied and empty premises. Everyone needs to make provision within their business finances for paying business rates, just as you would for other business expenses.

Occupied properties

The occupier of the premises is responsible for paying business rates. This will usually be the owner or the tenant. Sometimes the landlord of the property charges the occupier a rent that also includes an amount for the business rates.

It remains a private matter between the landlord and occupier to decide who is responsible to make payment, however the bill will remain in the name of the occupier, and if it is not paid, action will be taken against the occupier, not the landlord, to recover the amount due.

Unoccupied properties

Whoever has the right to occupy the property needs to pay any charge that is due (e.g. the leaseholder, tenant or the freeholder).

If a tenant moves out of a property but does not surrender the lease for a further six months, the tenant remains liable to pay any unoccupied rate charge that becomes due. However, if the tenant's lease ends, the landlord needs to pay the charge.