Business rates relief

The Scottish Government has introduced business rates relief to help owners of non-domestic properties, including businesses, deal with the impact of coronavirus (COVID-19). 

From April 2022:

• the Basic Property Rate (poundage) changed from 49 pence to 49.8 pence
• 50% relief for the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors is available for the first three months of 2022-23, capped at £27,500 per ratepayer
• the Business Growth Accelerator relief covers increases in rateable value due to the installation of solar panels
• enterprise Areas relief is continued until 31 March 2023
• transitional relief is continued until 31 March 2023 for all but the largest hospitality properties in Scotland, and Aberdeen City/Aberdeenshire offices

You can also apply for the Small Business Bonus Scheme through your local authority by completing a separate application form.

For payment deferral, you need to contact your local authority.

For water bills support, you should contact your water services supplier directly.

Hospitality, retail and leisure businesses

50% relief is available for the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors is available for the first three months of 2022-23, capped at £27,500 per ratepayer. To get this relief, a property has to be occupied. Properties that have closed temporarily due to the government's coronavirus advice will be treated as occupied.

All businesses

Rates relief is managed by your local authority. Choose your council from the list and get in touch with them for further details about eligibility and to apply: 

• Aberdeen
• Aberdeenshire 
• Angus
• Argyll and Bute
• Clackmannanshire
• Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
• Dumfries and Galloway
• Dundee
• East Ayrshire
• East Dunbartonshire
• East Lothian
• East Renfrewshire
• Edinburgh
• Falkirk
• Fife
• Glasgow
• Highland
• Inverclyde
• Midlothian
• Moray
• North Ayrshire (scroll to bottom of page)
• North Lanarkshire
• Orkney
• Perth and Kinross
• Renfrewshire
• Scottish Borders
• Shetland
• South Ayrshire
• South Lanarkshire
• Stirling
• West Dunbartonshire
• West Lothian

This is a free service.

All businesses in Scotland.

Contact your local authority for additional details about rates relief eligibility and to apply. You can also ask them about payment deferrals.

For support with water bills, contact your water services supplier directly.

You can also visit the Scottish Government website for more information.