Business rates paused while £2.4m grant aid paid out to local Moray businesses this week

During this period of exceptional economic challenges for local business, and in the light of the government’s relief packages available, Moray Council has paused the issue of business rates bills (NDR) for the financial year 2020/21.

The council’s revenue staff are currently concentrating on the issue of grants to eligible businesses, in accordance with government criteria. Please understand we are currently dealing with hundreds of applications for grant support and are endeavouring to process these as quickly as possible.

By the end of this week, £2.4 million will have been paid into the accounts of Moray businesses. Your patience during this period of high demand is appreciated.

The decision to pause NDR bills will be regularly reviewed in the context of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. 

On 18 March the Scottish Government announced a range of measures to support businesses through the Covid-19 outbreak.

This support will be available to businesses operating as at the 17 March 2020 and will cover the 2020/21 financial year. The support includes:

• a full year’s 100% non-domestic rates (NDR) relief for retail, hospitality and tourism businesses.  This will be automatically deducted from 2020-21 bills;
• Up to £10,000 grants for small businesses in receipt of the Small Business Bonus Scheme or Rural Relief
• £25,000 grants for hospitality, leisure and retail properties with a rateable value between £18,001 and £51,000
• 1.6% rates relief for all properties across Scotland, effectively reversing the planned below inflation uplift in the poundage from 1 April 2020. This will also be automatically deducted from 2020-21 bills;

More information is available on the council’s website at this link: http://www.moray.gov.uk/moray_standard/page_132568.html