• Business rates relief and exemptions

Hardship relief

If your business is facing financial difficulties, you may be eligible for business rates hardship relief to reduce your business rates bill. We can provide this relief in exceptional circumstances to support businesses experiencing temporary financial hardship.

What is hardship relief?

Hardship relief is a discretionary discount on your business rates bill. It is designed to help businesses that are struggling financially but are important to the local community. The council may reduce all or part of your business rates bill if paying the full amount would cause significant financial hardship and granting relief benefits the local area.

This relief is partially funded by the council, so it is granted only in specific cases where strict eligibility criteria are met.

Eligibility criteria

To qualify for hardship relief, you must demonstrate that:

  • Your business is experiencing a temporary reduction in turnover or other financial difficulties
  • Your business provides significant value to the local community (eg. employment, services, or economic contributions)
  • Paying the full business rates bill would cause severe financial hardship
  • The relief is in the interests of local council taxpayers

Each application is assessed on a case-by-case basis, and we will consider factors such as your business’s financial situation and its role in the community.

How to apply

To apply for business rates hardship relief, follow these 3 steps:

  1. Email ndr@eppingforestdc.gov.uk detailing the points under the eligibility criteria above
  2. Attach supporting evidence – Submit audited accounts, financial statements, or other documents showing your business’s financial hardship
  3. Attach a statement, with evidence, which demonstrates that the loss of the business would be to the loss of the local taxpayers

We will review your application and you will be notified of the decision in writing. If approved, the relief will be applied directly to your business rates bill.

Hardship relief is discretionary, and not all applications will be successful. You must continue to pay your business rates as billed until your application is approved.

If you’re behind on payments, contact us immediately to discuss your options and avoid recovery action.

Contact us

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