01204388189

What has that to do with 12d's post?  This thread is about rateable values of businesses/properties and not Icome Tax..

This is someone, probably an employee, flooding the thread with unrelated nonsense to get people bored and move away from this post.

Business rates is the commonly used name of non-domestic rates, a tax on the occupation of non-domestic property (National Non-Domestic Rates – NNDR). Rates are a property tax with ancient roots[1] that was formerly used to fund local services that was formalised with the Poor Law 1572 and superseded by the Poor Law of 1601. The Local Government Finance Act 1988 introduced business rates in England and Wales from 1990, repealing its immediate predecessor, the General Rate Act 1967. The act also introduced business rates in Scotland, but as an amendment to the existing system which had evolved separately to that in the rest of Great Britain. Since the establishment, in 1997, of a Welsh Assembly Government able to pass secondary legislation, the English and Welsh systems have been able to diverge.

The Local Government Finance Act 1988, with follow-up legislation, provided a fresh administrative framework for assessing and billing, but did not redefine the legal unit of property, the hereditament, that had been developed through rating case law. Properties are assessed in a rating list with a rateable value, a valuation of their annual rental value on a fixed valuation date using assumptions fixed by statute. Rating lists are created and maintained by the Valuation Office Agency, a UK Government Executive Agency. Rating lists can be altered either to reflect changes in properties, or as valuations are appealed against. New rating lists are normally created every five years, however, the 2015 revaluation has been postponed until 2017.[2]

In 2014-15 authorities collected a total of £22.9 billion in business rates, representing 3.53% of the total UK tax income and achieving an average in-year collection rate of 98.1%.[3]

On 1 April 2013 a new system of business rates retention began in England. Before April 2013 all business rate income collected by councils formed a single, national pot, which was then distributed by government in the form of formula grant. Through the Local Government Finance Act 2012, and regulations that followed, the Government gave local authorities the power to keep up to half of business rate income and transfer half of it centrally, to central government. The central share is then distributed to councils in the form of Revenue Support Grant. The other half kept by local authorities are then subjected to tariff, levy, top up and safety payments depending on the financial position of the council. According to the government the change gives financial incentives to councils to grow their local economies and increase their income from business rates. At the same time the new scheme has resulted in more risk and uncertainty.[4]

So I was right then. Flooding!!

The Army has been called in to support efforts to protect parts of Cumbria amid fears of further flooding.
Troops have been helping put out sandbags in preparation and flood defence gates have been closed in Cockermouth, Carlisle and Keswick.
There are five severe flood warnings and more than 70 flood warnings in place, mostly in northern England.
Cumbria has seen severe flooding three times this month. Heavy rain is feeding swollen rivers and saturated ground.
More than 110 flood alerts - signifying flooding is possible, be prepared - have also been issued.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has issued five flood alerts, including Tayside, where there are also eight higher-level flood warnings.
'Most at risk'
Rain was expected to spread across northern England and push northwards into Scotland through the course of Christmas Day.
On Boxing Day, rain will continue over much of Scotland, northern England and north Wales.
Forecasters warn the heaviest and most persistent rain is likely to be over north-west Wales and north-west England - 60 to 80mm (2in-3in) is expected, possibly 120mm (5in) over hills.
Members of the Army setting up flood defences in Appleby, north-west England, on 25 December 2015Image copyrightMOD
Image caption
Cumbria has already recorded the wettest December since records began in 1910
The Met Office has issued an amber warning for rain - meaning "be prepared" - for Cumbria on Saturday, and also for parts of Lancashire.
An Environment Agency spokesman said: "Cumbria is the area most at risk from further river and surface water flooding later today and tonight, with parts of Lancashire and Yorkshire also at risk.
"There is also the potential for some flooding along parts of the River Severn in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin and Worcestershire over the weekend and into Monday."
Cumbria Police is urging motorists to drive only if "absolutely necessary" tonight because of heavy rain.
People can access information from council websites and the Environment Agency Floodline.
The agency is also operating a phone line - 0345 988 1188 - which will be staffed rather than offering recorded information.
Wettest December
The Ministry of Defence said one company from 2nd Battalion Duke of Lancaster's Regiment (2LANCS), based at Weeton Barracks near Preston, had been deployed to help build flood defences in Warwick Bridge, Braithwaite and Appleby, early on Friday morning.
As well as the Army, the Environment Agency has 700 staff on stand-by to help people.
It has transported over two kilometres of temporary flood barriers and more than 20 extra pumps to the north of England and teams of workers have been out checking and maintaining flood defences, clearing blockages in watercourses and monitoring water levels.
'We got donated a Christmas dinner'
Residents clean out their house in CarlisleImage copyrightPA
Eight centres opened across Cumbria to put on Christmas lunch for those who have been flooded out of their homes or do not have the facilities to cook.
Residents also described receiving donations to help them enjoy the holiday.
Morag Little, whose house in Carlisle has been flooded twice, said despite the problems she and her family had faced, they would still be enjoying Christmas dinner together.
"We got donated a full Christmas dinner... we've got the turkey, the Brussels sprouts, we've got the lot."
Cumbria has already recorded the wettest December since records began in 1910.
Thousands of properties were affected when Storm Desmond brought a record amount of rainfall to Cumbria during the weekend of 5-6 December.
Four days later, further rain led to more flooding, and some parts of the county were inundated for a third time in a month on Tuesday after another deluge.
About 40 bridges and roads remain damaged or closed in the area.
GlenriddingImage copyrightGetty Images
Image caption
Glenridding in Cumbria has flooded three times in the last month
Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said: "Even at Christmas our Armed Forces are keeping us safe. Once again they are responding to the Cumbria floods with a level of commitment that is to be applauded."
Lt Peter Coates, who was among a group of soldiers working in Braithwaite near Keswick, said: "People have been really happy to see us. They've given us little snacks. They're just glad we're getting on with the task.
"If it does flood people need to be prepared. Peoples' lives potentially, as well as their property, can be at risk so whatever we can do to help we will do to help."
Environment Secretary Liz Truss, who chaired a conference call of the government's emergency committee Cobra on Friday, said: "Our priority continues to be protecting lives, protecting homes and protecting businesses.
"I would like to pay tribute to the tireless work of front-line staff over the last month and the resilience of those communities affected, which I have seen first-hand.
"This has been a very difficult time for all involved, especially people flooded out of their homes at Christmas for which I have enormous sympathy."
Cumbria Police tweeted: "Keep up to date with weather/flood warnings & follow: @MetOfficeUK & @EnvAgencyNW & visit link for update on roads: http://buzz.mw/ba9aa_n"
The River Ouse in York continues to rise flooding riverside properties in the City centre following heavy rainfalls across parts of the UK.Image copyrightPA
Image caption
The Environment Agency said roads could be flooded in York over the coming days, this was the River Ouse on Wednesday
Cluanie Inn in Inverness was where the most rain fell overnight from Christmas Eve to Christmas Day, with 19.8mm (0.78in) recorded in the 12-hour period to 05:00 GMT, the Met Office said.
This follows strong winds brought by Storm Eva to north-western parts of the UK in the early hours of Christmas Eve morning.
However, its impact was more keenly felt in Ireland where more than 2,000 homes and businesses were left without electricity on Christmas Eve.
Live flood warnings from the Environment Agency and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.

The only "flooding" going on here in this thread is by the plonkers who are typing rubbish to divert attention from the number and reports.

plonker
the term plonker started out as a reference to someone who was forever drunk on cheap wine (cheap wine is nicknamed plonk) this person was usualy a homeless person, or poor person.

today the term plonker is a very light hearted insult. Its not even seen as an insult, its like calling someone a wally. Its in no way ment maliciously. you call someone a plonker when they say or do something stupid.
bob - why didnt my food cook ?
john - you never turned on the oven, you plonker.
by Emperor Bubba February 01, 2005

UK (US garbage, trash) ​waste ​material or things that are no ​longer ​wanted or ​needed:
I ​forgot to put the rubbish out this ​morning.
Put the ​empty ​box in the rubbish ​bin.
Take the ​old ​furniture to the rubbish ​dump.
B2 informal something that you ​think is very ​low ​quality or not ​true:
The ​film was rubbish.
His ​ideas are a ​load of (​old) rubbish.

I looked up info on this number and all this seems to be a bunch of cut and paste spam dumps.

Yes because it is you that is doing it.

Spam (stylized SPAM) is a brand of canned precooked meat products made by Hormel Foods Corporation. It was first introduced in 1937 and gained popularity worldwide after its use during World War II.[1] By 2003, Spam was sold in 41 countries on six continents and trademarked in over 100 countries.[2] In 2007, the seven billionth can of Spam was sold.[3]

According to its label, Spam's basic ingredients are pork shoulder meat, with ham meat added, salt, water, modified potato starch as a binder, sugar, and sodium nitrite as a preservative. Natural gelatin forms during cooking in its tins on the production line.[4] Many have raised concerns over Spam's nutritional attributes, as Spam contains almost double the amount of fat compared to its protein content.

By the early 1970s the name "Spam" was often misused to describe any canned meat product containing pork, such as pork luncheon meat. With expansion in communications technology, it became the subject of urban legends about mystery meat and other appearances in pop culture.[5] Most notable was a Monty Python sketch portraying Spam as tasting horrible, ubiquitous and inescapable, characteristics which led to its name being borrowed for unsolicited electronic messages, especially spam email.[6]

how did you get on?

I too have found myself in the same situation and have had £500 plus vat taken from my account on receipt of the "acknowledgement letter" from the VO.

I feel like such a fool

The government will be putting retail jobs at risk if it does not undertake a fundamental review of business rates, Dave Lewis, the chief executive of Tesco, has warned ahead of the budget on Wednesday.

In a clear warning to the chancellor, George Osborne, Lewis said business rates were “completely disproportionate” and the fact they are linked solely to property puts traditional retailers operating from physical stores at a disadvantage.

Lewis also threw his weight behind a report by the British Retail Consortium that said there could be 900,000 fewer jobs in retail by 2025 as costs including business rates and the national minimum wage rise.

Lewis said the BRC report was a “fair reflection” of the outlook for the retail sector, which is a major employer in the UK. “If the government is not careful, it is going to keep piling on the burden. Business rates are the single biggest tax Tesco pays – £700m a year.”

The stories you need to read, in one handy email
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Last year, Lewis said retailers face a “potentially lethal cocktail” as profits slump and costs rise.

Retailers face £14bn of extra costs in the next five years from an increase in business rates and Osborne’s introduction of the “national living wage” in 2016, he said.

“There is a real risk that [this] will put pressure on employment in traditional retail,” he added.

Last month, leaked documents revealed that Tesco is considering cutting store staff by 39,000 over the next three years as the supermarket group tries to reverse a decline in profits.

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The group, which employs more than 300,000 people in the UK, cut thousands of jobs last year as part of efforts to reduce costs, although Lewis said there were no current plans to go further.

But he added: “We have to keep that under review depending on what happens in the budget [and the wider market].”

His focus on business rates was echoed by the British Chambers of Commerce. Its acting director general, Adam Marshall, said: “Ministers must also finally take action to ease the burden of business rates. Reform of the rates system is long overdue and a source of uncertainty for companies everywhere”.

Marshall has been propelled into the role since the departure of John Longworth after he was suspended for expressing his support for a UK exit from the European Union.

“In an increasingly uncertain economic environment, the chancellor should avoid any and all moves that could damage business confidence. At a time when many businesses already face sharply higher costs and taxes, the chancellor must avoid adding any new obligations on our firms,” Marshall said.

Osborne launched a review into business rates, which are based on commercial properly values, last year, and since then has promised to give local authorities control over business rates by 2020.

Tesco reported better than expected trading over Christmas and recent market data suggests that Lewis has dramatically slowed the pace of sales falls in recent months.

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Lewis said: “I’m pleased with progress, but I’m absolutely sure there is much more that we need to do.”

He said he expected the grocery market to remain tough in 2016. “Not since the early 1970s has the UK market experienced any food deflation and we are now entering a third year of that. Nothing I see suggests that is going to change in the next year or so ... Deflationary prices are good for customers but challenging for a business like ours and pressures from business rates and the living wages and new competitors.”

Tesco had “an opportunity to manage those conditions better than others,” Lewis said.

One area of focus is Tesco Mobile, the group’s telecommunications business, which is currently run as a 50-50 joint venture with O2.

O2 is in the process of being taken over by Hutchison Whampoa, the owner of the Three network in the UK. Tesco has signalled to European regulators, who are currently considering the deal, that it is looking at taking full ownership of the venture and securing capacity on Hutchison’s networks.

Lewis said Tesco would “look at all options” to protect its position in Tesco Mobile.

“It is a very good business that is extremely well managed and customers love it,” he said. “As the regulator looks at it, we need to make sure we protect the value in what is a great business for us.”

Clements Agency Group called me to reduce to rates and I will be able to get refund from the council.
Complete Scam company as initially they charge £120 and then £600 even without telling you.
Had to call them several times for my refund from them. They don't listen to you and don't answer your calls.
Tells you lie every time. Lady called Stella is an absolute shame and lies all the time.
Had to go through the bank to charge back the amounts as they don't refund.
Don't ever use them as this is a scam company complete waste of time and money.
Stay Away from them, those who have already paid for the service and never got any results call your bank and explain them that this company never keep to the service they initially offer.

Hi have you had any success in your litigation of this company?
They are asking me for quite a lot of money.

We stopped this company taking any more payments and they took us to court and won!!!

This information is about small claims cases. A small claims case is a defended case which the court has allocated to the small claims track. There are special rules about small claims cases and the procedures are described in this information.

If you have a case which is allocated to a track which is not a small claims track, you should consult an experienced adviser, for example, a Citizens Advice Bureau. To search for details of your nearest CAB, including those that can give advice by email, click on nearest CAB.

In most cases, the court will not order solicitors’ costs to be paid by the losing party in a small claims case, and if you instruct a solicitor you will have to pay the costs yourself. For this reason most claimants deal with a small claim without the help of a solicitor. It is possible to have the help of a friend or ‘lay representative’, for example, some Citizens Advice Bureaux can offer trained advisers to help people with small claims.

Types of case dealt with in the small claims track

When the court is considering whether to allocate a case to the small claims track, it will take into account a number of factors, but the main factor is the financial value of the case.

Financial value of the case

If the value of a case is £10,000 or less, it will generally be allocated to the small claims track. However, if it is a personal injury claim, it will be allocated to the small claims track only if the value of the claim for the personal injuries themselves is not more than £1,000. If the claimant is a tenant, and is claiming against their landlord because they want their landlord to carry out repairs or other work to the premises and the cost of the repairs or work is £1,000 or less, the case will be allocated to the small claims track.

In some cases, even if the value of the case is more than £10,000 the court could allocate the case to the small claims track. If this happens the usual rule about costs does not apply and if the claimant loses the case, they may have to pay the defendant’s solicitor’s costs. However, if the claimant wins the case, the defendant could be ordered to pay the claimant's costs.

Types of claims in the small claims track

The most common types of claim in the small claims track are:

compensation for faulty services provided, for example, by builders, dry cleaners or garages
compensation for faulty goods, for example, televisions or washing machines which go wrong
disputes between landlords and tenants, for example, rent arrears or compensation for not doing repairs
wages owed or money in lieu of notice.
If a case is complex, the judge may refer it to another track for a full hearing, even if it is below the financial limit of that track.

If you have a complex case you should consult an experienced adviser, for example, a Citizens Advice Bureau. To search for details of your nearest CAB, including those that can give advice by email, click on nearest CAB.

Time limits

If you are going to take court action, you must do this within certain time limits. The time limit depends upon what type of action you are taking, for example, the time limit for breach of contract is six years.

You will need to be aware of the time limits for taking action and should seek help from an experienced adviser, for example, a Citizens Advice Bureau. To search for details of your nearest CAB, including those that can give advice by email, click on nearest CAB.

Before applying to the court

You must try and settle a claim before taking court action. If you do not try to settle first, the court may penalise you. So, for example, if a television does not work, there is no point in applying to the court immediately for compensation - you must contact the shop which sold it first to try to solve the problem, and only use the court if you cannot get the problem solved by negotiation. The court will expect you to make your claim in writing, giving the other person a reasonable time to reply – a month is usual. You should also warn them that you will take court action if they fail to reply within the given time.

You may be able to sort out your claim by using mediation if the other party agrees. This is where an impartial third party, called a mediator, helps both parties to reach a mutually-agreeable solution to a problem. Sometimes even if you start a claim, the court might refer your case to a mediator.

You can find a local mediation provider by using the tool on the Ministry of Justice website at www.justice.gov.uk. You will be charged a fixed fee.

You can find further information about mediation on the Civil Mediation Council website at www.civilmediation.org

The court also offers free telephone-based mediation through its Small Claims Mediation Service. This is available to all small claims which are defended, and if both parties agree to it.

Which court deals with the case

Any money claim must be issued at the County Court Money Claims Centre. Other cases can be issued in the local county court.

The court will then transfer the case automatically to the defendant’s nearest county court if:

the case is defended, and
the claim is for a fixed amount, and
the defendant is an individual, not a company.
In other cases, either party can ask for the case to be transferred to another county court.

Contact details of county courts

You can use the court finder tool to find details of your local county court on the GOV.UK website at www.gov.uk.

Access for disabled people

If you are disabled and going to court, you should check with the court what facilities there are for disabled people. You can find details of local access facilities on the GOV.UK website at www.gov.uk.

If access to the court is impossible because of your disability, the case may be transferred to a more suitable court.

Starting a claim

As a claimant, you start a claim by filling in a claim form (N1). Claim forms are available from local courts, and from HM Courts and Tribunals service at www.justice.gov.uk.

The claim form asks for details of the claimant and the defendant and how much is being claimed. The claim form includes space for the particulars of claim which should be used to set out the details of the claim, but if there is not enough room, they can be set out on a separate piece of paper. In some circumstances, as a claimant you might need extra time to complete the particulars of claim. You have the right to send the particulars of claim to the defendant separately, but no later than 14 days after the claim form.

If the details of the case are complicated, you should consult an experienced adviser, for example, a Citizens Advice Bureau. To search for details of your nearest CAB, including those that can give advice by email, click on nearest CAB.

As the claimant, you may be able to claim interest on your claim. If so, you must include interest in the amount you are claiming on the claim form. There is a specific form of words you should use to do this. For more information about claiming interest, see the guidance notes that come with the claim form.

In some circumstances, additional documents need to be attached to the particulars of claim. For

Having been one of the most hotly-debated economic topics in recent years, companies throughout the UK could be rejoicing or commiserating after predicted changes to local business rates.

British high streets in areas such as Rochester will actually benefit
After the British government announced plans to launch a review of the business rates system in March 2016, a later postponement of such a development left many feeling the powers that be did not sufficiently understand the pressure felt by business owners.

Indeed, in the run up to the general election in May, opposition parties, and in particular Labour, made business rates a big part of manifestos and business pledges. Former shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna declared that business owners have been “clobbered” by hikes in business rates and that a cutting, and then freezing, of business rates was necessary.

In the Summer Budget in July and Autumn Statement in December we heard little to nothing when it came to business rates – the government instead focusing on things like apprenticeships, corporation tax and the wider economy.

Now, however, new research has suggested businesses are “sleep walking” into major business rates changes that are going on below the surface.

Despite January 2016 being the mark when the government will have finished assessing three-quarters of properties for new business rates, each will not know the results until October 2016.

As such, it will come as a surprise to the 76 main towns and shopping centres that are predicted to experience an increase to business rates. Furthermore, parts of London could see a hike of more than 400 per cent.

To combat the surges some parts of the UK will experience, Colliers International research suggested the Midlands, North of England and Wales will benefit from business rates decreases.

Showing the extent of the changes, Dover Street, a shopping street in the capital home to brands such as Victoria Beckham, could witness a rate increase from around £80,000 to nearly £400,000 by 2017.

Alongside the swanky shopping and entertainment street, Brixton at 128 per cent and Fulham at 187 per cent will also be hit particularly hard.

John Webber, head of rating at Colliers International, said: “The 2017 rating revaluation will produce the largest changes to business rates for high street retailers in a generation. We now understand that the bulk of assessments have been made and local councils are very nervous about widespread reductions in business rates revenue.

“Our message is clear: retailers need to start planning for these changes. Retailers in London and the South East will, in some cases, face significant rate rises. Budgeting to allow for this should be addressed now and we hope that our data serves as a wake-up call a clear 12 months before the government publishes the final details. For retailers who are considering closing unprofitable shops in the North and the Midlands, this report should be good news with likely rates’ cuts only round the corner.

“For retailers who can expect a reduction in business rates, it’s important to be clear about rate liability. This knowledge offers leverage for both landlord and tenant when it comes to rent negotiations. Retailers who could be sleep walking into rates changes are threatening the sustainability of their stores. We strongly urge them to wake up and act to protect their shops and the jobs which rely upon them.”

Britain's current system has been widely criticised because of the way that rates are charged to retailers based on the value of the company's shop or other commercial property, rather than turnover or profit. Business rates bring in around £25bn annually to the Treasury, but retailers argue that they are not closely related enough to actual profitability and say the system gives online retailers an unfair advantage.

Earlier in 2015, Real Business heard from Askar Sheibani, CEO and founder of telecoms repair and support company Comtek, that his business was paying thirty times more for business rates in the UK than it was for other operations in the UK.

“While the government has taken steps to lower the business rates for some organisations, such as those adhering to specific criteria and located in Enterprise Zones, the it must overhaul the entire process. Instead of basing the rates calculation on property value, more focus should be placed on profitability and performance, so as to encourage, rather than hamper, business growth.”

So, which areas are likely to be raising a glass and which will be drowning their sorrows?

Top 10 UK winners with business rates reductions:
Newport: 80 per cent reduction
Port Talbot: 64 per cent reduction
Tamworth: 56 per cent reduction
Neath: 56 per cent reduction
Ealing: 46 per cent reduction
Torquay: 45 per cent reduction
Pontypridd: 44 per cent reduction
Dewsbury: 43 per cent reduction
Llanelli: 43 per cent reduction
Kidderminster: 42 per cent reduction

Central London – Biggest increases
Jermyn Street: 133 per cent increase
James Street: 72 per cent increase
Strand: 93 per cent increase
New Bond Street: 69 per cent increase
Old Bond Street: 169 per cent increase
Coventry Street: 186 per cent increase
Leicester Square: 239 per cent increase
Marylebone High Street: 146 per cent increase
Redchurch Street: 131 per cent increase
Bishopsgate: 181 per cent increase
Dover Street: 415 per cent increase

Outer London – Biggest increases
Putney: 12 per cent increase
Clapham Junction: 78 per cent increase
Hammersmith: 89 per cent increase
Islington: 53 per cent increase
Hampstead: 29 per cent increase
Wandsworth: 67 per cent increase
Camden: 10 per cent increase
Westfield London: 102 per cent increase
Brixton: 128 per cent increase
Southall: 91 per cent increase

For info on where all of the biggest changes are, have a look at the Colliers International research

met a pieman going to the fair said simple simon to the pieman look I have no hair said simple simon to the pieman have you some money said the piemand no simon I aint got any

Clements agency one of the biggest scam, lier and exploit people to steel money, by pitching you you rateable value is high and they will lower it. Totally fraud . Sue who is the director and formerly they people use to run the company called Hammer properties. They are same people running the same business but with the different name of the company Elliot devise one of the big [***], and prick.
Once you have given your card number they will deduct your money without your permission or knowing you. Please don't sign any contract which they sent you firstly via email or post. People speak to you on the phone they are not the surveyors.