Citation and commencement

1.-(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Council Tax and Non-Domestic Rating (Demand Notices) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2016.

(2) These Regulations come into force on 1st April 2016.

Amendment to the Council Tax and Non-Domestic Rating (Demand Notices) (England) Regulations 2003

2.  The Council Tax and Non-Domestic Rating (Demand Notices) (England) Regulations 2003(2) are amended as follows.

Amendment of Schedule 2 (matters to be contained in rate demand notices)

3.-(1) In Part 1 of Schedule 2(3), the explanatory notes in paragraph 7(4) are amended as follows-

(a)for the second paragraph under the heading "Rateable Value" substitute-

"The valuation officer may alter the value if circumstances change. The ratepayer (and certain others who have an interest in the property) can appeal against the value shown in the list if they believe it is wrong. Full details on your rights of appeal are available from the Valuation Office Agency. Your billing authority can only backdate any business rates rebate to the date from which any change to the list is to have effect.";

(b)for the second paragraph under the heading "National Non-Domestic Rating Multiplier" substitute-

"The current multipliers are shown on the front of this bill.";

(c)for the first paragraph under the heading "Small Business Rate Relief" substitute-

"Ratepayers who occupy a property with a rateable value which does not exceed £17,999 outside London or £25,499 in London (and who are not entitled to other mandatory relief or are liable for unoccupied property rates) will have their bills calculated using the lower small business non-domestic rating multiplier, rather than the national non-domestic rating multiplier.";

(d)in the second paragraph under the heading "Small Business Rate Relief"-

(i)for "2014" substitute "2015"; and

(ii)for "2016" substitute "2017";

(e)omit the heading "Retail Discounts" and all the text relating to that heading.

(2) In Part 3 of Schedule 2(5), the explanatory notes in paragraph 3(6) are amended as follows-

(a)for the second paragraph under the heading "Rateable Value" substitute-

"The valuation officer may alter the value if circumstances change. The ratepayer (and certain others who have an interest in the property) can appeal against the value shown in the list if they believe it is wrong. Full details on your rights of appeal are available from the Valuation Office Agency. Your billing authority can only backdate any business rates rebate to the date from which any change to the list is to have effect.";

(b)omit the heading "Special arrangements for the City of London" and all the text relating to that heading;

(c)for the text relating to the heading "The City of London Rating Multiplier" substitute-

"There are two multipliers: the standard non-domestic rating multiplier and the small business non-domestic rating multiplier. The former is higher to pay for small business rate relief. Because of its special circumstances – notably its very small resident population – the Common Council of the City of London can set its own rate – or multiplier – and retain part of the proceeds to help pay for the services it provides. It may set this rate, subject to certain constraints, at a higher or lower level than the rate which applies outside the City of London. The City sets the multipliers for each financial year according to formulae set by legislation.";

(d)for the text relating to the heading "National Non-Domestic Rating Multiplier" substitute-

"The current multipliers are shown on the front of this bill.";

(e)for the first paragraph under the heading "Small Business Rate Relief" substitute-

"Ratepayers who occupy a property with a rateable value which does not exceed £17,999 outside London or £25,499 in London (and who are not entitled to other mandatory relief or are liable for unoccupied property rates) will have their bill calculated using the lower small business non-domestic rating multiplier, rather than the national non-domestic rating multiplier.";

(f)in the second paragraph under the heading "Small Business Rate Relief"-

(i)for "2014" substitute "2015"; and

(ii)for "2016" substitute "2017";

(g)omit the heading "Retail Discounts" and the text relating to that heading.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Council Tax and Non-Domestic Rating (Demand Notices) (England) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/2613) ("the 2003 Regulations") in relation to non-domestic rating demand notices only. They amend the explanatory notes in Parts 1 and 3 of Schedule 2 to reflect recent changes to non-domestic rating.

Schedule 2 to the 2003 Regulations sets out the matters that must be included in a demand notice for non-domestic rates. A demand notice served by or on behalf of a billing authority other than the Common Council or a rural settlement authority must contain explanatory notes in the same or substantially similar terms to the explanatory notes set out in paragraph 7 of Part 1 of Schedule 2. A demand notice served by or on behalf of a rural settlement authority must contain explanatory notes in the same or substantially similar terms to the explanatory notes set out in paragraph 7 of Part 1 of Schedule 2, as modified by Part 2 of Schedule 2. A demand notice served by or on behalf of the Common Council must contain explanatory notes in the same or substantially similar terms to the explanatory notes set out in paragraph 3 of Part 2 of Schedule 2.

An impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no impact on the private or voluntary sectors is foreseen and the impact on the public sector is minimal.