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In December 1999 we were able to issue a Digest giving details of the Transitional Scheme for rate bills following the 2000 revaluation for England. At that time schemes for Scotland and Wales had not been published. The Welsh Assembly, and now the Scottish Parliament, have subsequently published schemes for their own countries. These are summarised below.
Properties with rateable values of £10,000 or less are deemed to be "small businesses". The multiplier is 45.8 pence, reducing to 44.8 pence for small businesses. Transition will continue to apply where a property in transition changes owner or occupier.
The limit on INCREASES in rate bills for 2000/2001 is inflation (at 1.1%) plus, for small businesses 5%, for the rest, 7.5.%.
The limit on DECREASES in rate bills for 2000/2001 is inflation (ie plus 1.1%) less 5% for all properties.
Limits for future years have not been published and there appears to be no commitment to tie future multipliers to inflation.
Transition will apply only to properties having assessments of £25,000 rateable value or less. The multiplier is 41.2 pence. Transition will last for three years only (ie no transition from 2003/04). Transition will only apply to ratepayers who were in occupation of the property on 31st March 2000.
The limit on INCREASES in rate bills for 2000/2001 is 10% (with no addition for inflation). For the subsequent two years the amount of relief given in 2000/2001 will be reduced by one third in each year.
The limit on DECREASES in rate bills for 2000/2001 is 15% in the first year; 45% in the second year and 90% in the third (with no addition for inflation).
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