Billing system snapshot 2021: guidance

Field Name

Notes on Completion

UARN

The UARN (Unique Assessor Reference Number) for the property as used on the Scottish Assessors Association (SAA) Valuation Roll should be included here. For some local authorities, the PPRN (Persistent Property Reference Number) may be used instead, but where possible the UARN is the preferred form.

The format of the UARN (or PPRN) should match that on the Scottish Assessors Association Valuation Roll EXACTLY – examples of the reference number used on the Valuation Roll can be seen at www.saa.gov.uk by using the ‘to search for a rateable value’ facility. Instances where problems have arisen in the past are cases of splits and mergers of properties so please be mindful of these.

The UARN (or PPRN) should be formatted as a ‘text’ field with no character length restriction to accommodate the different formats of UARN across council areas. When inputting the UARN to the Excel template, please ensure that the field format remains as “text”. This is especially important for UARNs which contain only digits and start with 0.

Please note that we assume that each UARN has a single address supplied by the local authority. If multiple addresses are supplied under a single UARN, they will be overwritten by the first address.

Name

The name of the primary liable rates payer is to be included in this field.

Address

The address of the primary liable rates payer i.e. where the rates bill is sent, is to be included in this field, excluding the postcode. It is important for the postcode to be recorded in a separate field.

Postcode

The postcode from the billing address of the primary liable rates payer should be included in this field, WITH a space in the middle (e.g. AA1 1AA).

Missing postcodes should be populated where possible/applicable.

Rateable Value

The rateable value as at the snapshot date for the property in receipt of relief should be included in this field.

Relief Type

Record only the relief types that the property is in receipt of on the snapshot date (1 June 2021). For example, if they received empty property relief on 31 May, but the property is occupied on 1 June and therefore not receiving empty property relief, then this should not be included in the snapshot.

Mandatory and Discretionary elements of relief should be recorded as separate relief types.

Please insert the two-digit code (as text) as listed in red below, rather than the description when recording relief types.

Where a property is in receipt of more than one relief, a separate record (row in the spreadsheet) should be entered for each relief type.

01 – Mandatory Unoccupied/Partly Unoccupied Property Relief – excluding exemptions listed under codes 28 and 29

Include all properties in receipt of empty property relief (other than exemptions to be reported separately) as set out in the Non-Domestic Rating (Unoccupied Property) (Scotland) Regulations 2018, as amended by The Non-Domestic Rating (Unoccupied Property)(Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2020. 

Empty properties exempt from rates e.g. listed properties, those with a rateable value less than £1,700, etc. should be excluded and reported under either code 28 or 29.

28 – Empty Property Exemptions (listed/preservation order)

Include all properties exempt from rates due to the fact that they are empty and either listed buildings or the subject of a building preservation order (and in effect receiving 100% relief).

29 – Empty Property Exemptions (other)

Include all properties exempt from rates for reasons other than those detailed above under relief code 28 (and so also effectively receiving 100% relief), i.e. properties which are empty and meet any of the below criteria:

• Property not comprising one or more buildings or part of a building;
• Rateable Value is under £1,700;
• Owner is in administration or subject to an administration order;
• Owner is a company or limited liability partnership subject to a winding-up order made under the Insolvency Act 1986 or being wound up voluntarily under that Act;
• Occupation prohibited by law;
• Action taken by or on behalf of the Crown or any public authority with a view to prohibiting occupation or to acquisition (e.g. compulsory purchase order);
• Person entitled to possession only so entitled as a liquidator, as the trustee under a trust deed for creditors or an award of sequestration, or as the executor of a deceased person’s estate

02 – Mandatory Religious

Include all properties exempt from rates due to being used for religious purposes as set out under section 22(1) of the Valuation and Rating (Scotland) Act 1956, as amended by schedule 13 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992.

03 – Mandatory Charity Relief

Include those in receipt of mandatory charity relief (maximum 80% relief) under section 4(2) of the Local Government (Financial Provisions etc.) (Scotland) Act 1962. 

For those properties that also receive the discretionary element of charity relief awarded under 4(5)(a) of the 1962 Act, the discretionary relief should be recorded separately under relief code 10 - maximum of 20% relief. 

(Some properties may receive only discretionary charity relief, awarded under section 4(5)(b) of the 1962 Act, in which case their relief is all reported under code 10 – maximum of 100%).

04 – Mandatory Sports Clubs Relief

Include those in receipt of the mandatory element of sports club relief (maximum 80% relief) under section 4(2) of the Local Government (Financial Provisions etc.) (Scotland) Act 1962. 

For those properties that also receive discretionary sports club rate relief, awarded under 4(5)(a) of the 1962 Act, the discretionary relief should be recorded separately under relief code 11 -maximum of 20% relief.

(Some properties may receive only discretionary sports club relief awarded under section 4(5)(c) of the 1962 Act, in which case their relief is all reported under code 30 – maximum of 100% relief).

05 – Disabled Persons

Include those in receipt of rate rebates for disabled persons as set out under the Rating (Disabled Persons) Act 1978.

06 – Mandatory Rural Rate Relief

Include those in receipt of the 100% mandatory rural rates relief under paragraph 4 of Schedule 2 of the Local Government and Rating Act 1997 and The Non-Domestic Rates (Rural Areas) (Scotland) Regulations 2017. For properties that receive discretionary rural rate relief, the discretionary relief should be recorded under relief code 13.

07 – Small Business Bonus Scheme (SBBS)

Include properties in receipt of the Small Business Bonus Scheme under The Non-Domestic Rates (Levying and Miscellaneous Amendments) (Scotland) Regulations 2021. The corresponding relief percentage should be the percentage awarded after accounting for any other relief awarded prior to the SBBS, not the SBBS eligibility.

08 – Mandatory Renewables

Include those in receipt of Renewable Energy Relief under The Non-Domestic Rates (Renewable Energy Generation Relief) (Scotland) Regulations 2010, as amended by The Non-Domestic Rates (Renewable Energy Generation Relief) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2021, including the relief for hydro schemes.

09 – Discretionary Hardship

The Local Government (Scotland) Act 1994 makes provision for the award of hardship relief by local authorities. Include any properties in receipt of such relief.

10 – Discretionary Charity

Include all forms of discretionary charity relief under this code. Local Authorities are able to provide discretionary “top up” (up to a maximum of 20%) to the mandatory element of charity relief under section 4(5)(a) of the Local Government (Financial Provisions etc.) (Scotland) Act 1962. They may also provide up to 100% discretionary charity relief under section 4(5)(b) of the Local Government (Financial Provisions etc.) (Scotland) Act 1962. The mandatory element of charity relief should be included under relief code 03.

11 – Discretionary Sports Club under 4(5)(a)

Include discretionary sports relief awarded under section 4(5)(a) of the Local Government (Financial Provisions etc.) (Scotland) Act 1962.

Local Authorities are able to provide discretionary “top up” (up to a maximum of 20%) to the mandatory element of sports club relief for sports clubs (Community Amateur Sports Clubs (CASCs) or Sports Clubs which are registered charities) granted under section 4(5)(a)of the Local Government (Financial Provisions etc.) (Scotland) Act 1962.

Discretionary relief awarded under 4(5)(c) should be reported separately under code 30.

The mandatory element of sports club relief should be included under relief code 04.

30 – Discretionary Sports Club under 4(5)(c)

Include discretionary sports relief awarded for not-for-profit clubs, societies or organisations used for the purposes of recreation granted under section 4(5)(c) of the Local Government (Financial Provisions etc.) (Scotland) Act 1962. Local Authorities are able to provide up to 100% discretionary charity relief under this section of the Act and this is 100% funded by SG.

13 – Discretionary Rural Rate Relief

Local Authorities have discretionary powers to grant up to 100% relief to properties which provide a service which is of benefit to the community, under paragraph 4 of Schedule 2 of the Local Government and Rating Act 1997. Include properties in receipt of discretionary rural rate relief under this code. This will be a maximum of 100% relief. This excludes those subjects who qualify for the 100% mandatory rural relief (relief code 06).

14 – Discretionary Stud Farms

Include properties in receipt of discretionary relief under the Valuation (Stud Farms) (Scotland) Order 2005.

16 – Fresh Start

Include properties in receipt of Fresh Start relief as set out under Regulation 4 of the Non-Domestic Rating (Unoccupied Property) (Scotland) Regulations 2018, as amended by The Non-Domestic Rates (Levying and Miscellaneous Amendments) (Scotland) Regulations 2021.

18 – Enterprise Areas Relief

Include properties within an enterprise area that are in receipt of relief under the Non-Domestic Rates (Enterprise Areas) (Scotland) Regulations 2019, as amended by The Non-Domestic Rates (Enterprise Areas) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2020.

19 – District Heating Relief

Include properties in receipt of district heating relief under The Non-Domestic Rates (District Heating Relief) (Scotland) Regulations 2017, as amended by The Non-Domestic Rates (Renewable Energy Generation Relief) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2021.

20 – Transitional Relief

Include properties in receipt of any sector specific transitional relief following the 2017 revaluation under the Non-Domestic Rates (Transitional Relief) (Scotland) Regulations 2017, as amended by The Non-Domestic Rates (Levying and Miscellaneous Amendments) (Scotland) Regulations 2021. This should include both transitional relief for the hospitality sector as well as for offices in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.

21 – Nursery Relief

Include properties in receipt of the 100% relief for day nurseries under the Non-Domestic Rates (Day Nursery Relief) (Scotland) Regulations 2018, as amended by The Non-Domestic Rates (Levying and Miscellaneous Amendments) (Scotland) Regulations 2021.

22 – Business Growth Accelerator Relief – Occupied New Build

Include properties in receipt of relief as a result of being just newly added to the valuation roll and first occupation having taken place, under the Non-Domestic Rates (Relief for New and Improved Properties) (Scotland) Regulations 2019, as amended by The Non-Domestic Rates (Levying and Miscellaneous Amendments) (Scotland) Regulations 2021.

BGA relief awarded for improvements should be reported separately under code 31.

31 – Business Growth Accelerator Relief – Improvements

Include properties in receipt of relief as a result of an improvement having taken place resulting in an increase in RV (regardless of occupation) under the Non-Domestic Rates (Relief for New and Improved Properties) (Scotland) Regulations 2019 as amended by The Non-Domestic Rates (Levying and Miscellaneous Amendments) (Scotland) Regulations 2021.

23 – Unoccupied New Builds Relief

Include properties in receipt of 100% relief as newly added to the valuation roll, and having never been occupied, under the Non-Domestic Rates (Relief for New and Improved Properties) (Scotland) Regulations 2019 as amended by The Non-Domestic Rates (Levying and Miscellaneous Amendments) (Scotland) Regulations 2021. Note that this is only for properties that have yet to be occupied. Relief type 22 is to be used for relief to new build properties that have been occupied.

24 – New Fibre Relief

Include any telecommunications new fibre infrastructure in receipt of 100% relief under the Non-Domestic Rates (Telecommunications New Fibre Infrastructure Relief) (Scotland) Regulations 2019, as amended by The Non-Domestic Rates (Levying and Miscellaneous Amendments) (Scotland) Regulations 2021.

25 – Community Empowerment Act Relief

Include any properties in receipt of local rates reliefs under the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015.

26 – Mobile Mast Relief

Include any properties in receipt of rates reliefs under the Non-Domestic Rates (Telecommunication Installations) (Scotland) Regulations 2016, as amended by The Non-Domestic Rates (Levying and Miscellaneous Amendments) (Scotland) Regulations 2021.

27 – Lighthouse Relief

Include properties awarded 100% relief under s.221 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995.

32 – Reverse Vending Machine Relief

Include properties awarded reverse vending machine relief under the Non-Domestic Rates (Reverse Vending Machine Relief) (Scotland) Regulations 2020. 

34 – Retail, Hospitality, Leisure and Airports Relief

Include properties awarded retail, hospitality, leisure or airport relief under The Non-Domestic Rates (Coronavirus Reliefs) (Scotland) Regulations 2021.

99 – Other

Include any properties in receipt of any other reliefs not covered by the above. If you report any properties here please send in a separate cover note explaining why, as we would not expect that there would be any other possible relief types.

Relief Percentage

Record only the relief percentage that is awarded at the snapshot date (1 June 2021). For example if a property was previously in receipt of 100% SBBS at the start of the financial year, but at 1 June 2021 receives 10% empty property relief, record only the latter relief and relief percentage;

Include only the actual relief percentage currently applied to the business for the relief type specified rather than the percentage they are entitled to e.g. if eligible for 100% SBBS, but also receives 10% transitional relief, only 90% SBBS is awarded and therefore recorded in this field;

Similarly, the percentage of relief awarded should be recorded as a whole, rather than being discounted for partial award due to the relief being awarded for only part of the year;

BGA

Note that where the Business Growth Accelerator (BGA) Relief is awarded due to an improvement (relief code 31), the percentage relief recorded should be the percentage of the total bill. So although it would by 100% relief on the increase in RV – the relief percent reported will be less than 100%.

If BGA relief is awarded in conjunction with other reliefs, these other relief(s) should also be recorded as the percentage of the total bill they apply to. 

Transitional Relief

The Transitional Relief percentage reported should be the percentage of the original GROSS bill before the application of the cap. In effect it is (100-Transitional limitGross liability). It should NOT be reported as the percentage increase in the transitional limit. Some councils previously reported all TR recipients as receiving 12.5% relief, or 52.8% relief. While the threshold has increased in real terms by 12.5% each year, and overall in 2019 by 52.8% since revaluation, the actual percentage of relief awarded to each property varies depending on how much of a change there was in the RV at revaluation.

Other reliefs in conjunction with TR

Where other reliefs are awarded in conjunction with Transitional Relief (e.g. SBBS, Charity), the (other) relief percentage required is the percentage of the GROSS bill. It is NOT the percentage of the transitional limit. No property can receive more than 100% relief (e.g. a property receiving TR and full SBBS can have the two summing to a maximum of 100%, meaning the figure reported for SBBS should be less than 100%).

The percentage of relief awarded should be recorded as an integer e.g. as 20 when 20% relief is awarded. Where a local authority awards relief that would be in mixed integer and decimal format e.g. 12.5%, then 12.5 is also acceptable.