Business rates

#1 smoothonline

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Posted 28 April 2009 - 06:34 PM

Who here has to pay business rates to their council for working from home?

I use my general lap top to design and my home phone and mobile. There is no specific designated space in my house called an office. And no clients visit my house, I'm pretty sure I am not needing to pay business rates. However it's such a grey area and I don't want to get in trouble...

char

#2 ReaperWD

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Posted 28 April 2009 - 06:52 PM

Quote

Whether your local council charges business rates or not depends on the degree of business use. You are more likely to have to pay business rates if a room is used exclusively for business, or has been modified (eg as a workshop). Each case is considered individually.

http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/actio...9221&r.s=sc

Hope it helps,

Reaper

#3 BritZin

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Posted 28 April 2009 - 07:10 PM

Don't take my word for it, but;

> If you are running a business from a home/residential address and you have NOT Converted the house in anyway to suit the running of a business (I.E. Adding an extention purely for office purposes) then you don't pay business rates.

#4 Sam G

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Posted 29 April 2009 - 06:40 PM

If the room you normally work in is not specifically designated as business use only (i.e. you work from your living room/bedroom/bathtub) then you do not pay business rates. Even if you have clients visit it makes no difference.

I know this as I phoned up the VOA to check.

#5 BritZin

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Posted 29 April 2009 - 07:07 PM

Ahh, I think it actually depends on your local authority.
So your County, Borough or District Council make the rules on these matters.
But I think what we've said is the general status quo anyway.

#6 M8 INTERNET

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Posted 29 April 2009 - 07:19 PM

The room has to be specifically converted or for the exclusive use of that business
An example is a vet who works from home, where one or two rooms have been converted and they are only used for that purpose
Clearly the vet is not going to use those rooms when the practice is closed

Even if you do work from home, such as a spare room, then that room would have to be specifically and exclusively for that purpose