Business rates in Wales – a timely reminder

This is an update on the latest changes to business rates provided by the Welsh Government on the Non-Domestic Rates (NDR) system in Wales.

• Retail, leisure and hospitality businesses in Wales will receive 50% NDR relief for the duration of 2022-23. Like the scheme announced by the UK Government, the Welsh Government’s Retail, Leisure and Hospitality Rates Relief scheme will be capped at £110,000 per business across Wales.
• The NDR multiplier will remain frozen in Wales for 2022-23, at 0.535.
• Effective from 1^st April 2022 the Welsh Government is going to address the perceived misuse of empty property relief. The required occupation period following vacation will increase from six weeks to 26 weeks in order to qualify for a subsequent three, or six months relief from empty property rates.

Later this year, the Welsh Government intends to consult on the implementation of further measures announced in 2018, which, from 1 April 2023, will provide the following:

• A new legal obligation on ratepayers, to notify their local authority of a change in circumstances which would affect their rates bills.
• A new legal power for local authorities to request information from ratepayers and third parties, to aid authorities in discharging the billing and collection function.