Small Business Bonus Scheme

The Small Business Bonus Scheme, introduced in Scotland on 1st April 2008, has replaced the Small Business Rates Relief Scheme.

The Scottish Government recognise small businesses sit at the heart of our local economies and that rates account for a higher proportion of overheads of small businesses than they do for larger businesses. The Small Businesss Bonus aims to target additional help at genuinely small businesses.

In February 2010 the Scottish Government announced the threshold for the Scheme would increase.

The Scheme provides the following reliefs from 1 April 2010: Combined rateable value (RV) of all business properties in Scotland: 2010-11

• Up to £10,000 - 100%
• £10,001 to £12,000 - 50%
• £12,001 to £18,000 - 25%
• Upper limit for cumulative (RV)* £25,000 - 25%

*This will allow a business with 2 or more properties with a cumulative rateable value of under £25,000 to qualify for relief at 25% on individual properties with a RV less than £18,000.