Business rates

What are business rates?

We charge business rates (also called non-domestic rates) on most non-domestic properties, like:

  • shops
  • offices
  • pubs
  • warehouses
  • factories
  • holiday rental homes or guest houses, e.g. a boarding house

We retain a proportion of the business rates paid locally, providing a direct financial incentive to improve the local economy.

We then pass the remainder back to central government, for re-allocation to local authorities through various grants.

Register for business rates

The easiest way to register for Business Rates is to fill in our online form.

Register for business rates

If your business has moved to, from or between business premises in Central Bedfordshire, you can also report this change online.

Report a change of business premises

You can also call or email us – our contact details are below.

We want to support small businesses and the local economy, and to do so, we offer:

  • a flexible payment option - spread your instalments over 12 months of the year instead of 10
  • a local discretionary rate relief scheme, offering local assistance to local businesses

Once you’re registered for business rates, you can set up your Direct Debit payments online, and apply for both statutory and local rate reliefs.

Contact us

Email: businessrates@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk
Telephone: 0300 300 8011

Please quote your business rates account reference in all correspondence – your account reference is 7 or 8 digits long and starts with a 3, and you can find it on your business rates bill or any letter we’ve sent about your business rates.