Oxfordshire based Charted Surveyors Bankier Sloan have highlighted the continued variance in advice given by local councils across of the country about Small Business Rates Relief (SBRR).

Chartered Surveyor, Ian Sloan, who lead the team that carried out the research believes that there are still thousands of businesses who have failed to benefit from the scheme due to the poor and incorrect information given by most councils.

The team now estimated the average refund available to the small businesses that have not claimed may be as high as £8000. It is possible to re-claim a rates refund back to April 2010.

The scheme allows small businesses that have a single property with a Rateable Value of less than £6000 can claim 100% rate relief. If a business has a single property with a rateable value between £6000 and £12000 then there is tapered relief.

If a business occupies a single building with a rateable value below £12000 then they HAVE to apply to the local council for the relief.

Ian Sloan commented ” The small Business Rates Relief scheme is available not only to industry but to occupiers of retail premises and if your a retailer operating from a single shop you should not be paying any rates is your Rateable value is below £7,666.”

Central Government funded the scheme and the cost of administering in from a premium paid by larger companies across the UK.

A copy of the full report can be read here