Business rates

What information do we need?

• personal information (such as name, addresses for you and your business, names of other occupiers or owners, dates of occupation, dates of vacation);
• property details (such as ownership, the type of premises, the type of business, whether the premises is occupied, what equipment, plant or machinery is on the premises, how many premises you occupy or own);
• financial information (in certain cases it will be necessary to obtain financial details
  to establish whether you or your business are entitled to any relief or reduction); and
• contact details (such as telephone numbers, email addresses to be able to contact you in relation to your account).

Why we need it?

We need to hold this information about you in order to carry out a task in the official authority of Council to collect tax and rates under the Local Government Finance Act 1992 and the NNDR Regulations 2013 and 2016.

We use your data and that of the business to:

• assess your liability to pay Non Domestic Rating;
• assess any potential entitlement to an exemption, mandatory relief, discretionary relief or reduction;
• to collect and where necessary recover Non Domestic Rates in line with the legislation;
• prevent fraud and abuse of public funds;
• prevent Non Domestic Rates avoidance and Non Domestic Rates evasion;
• enable us to carry out all of our legal duties in relation to Non Domestic Rates administration, collection and recovery;
• derive statistics to inform both local and central government on Non Domestic Rates; and
• enable us to carry out specific functions for which we are responsible including ensuring that you receive other council services to which you/your business are entitled.

Do we share your information?

We routinely share the information provided with:

• Cabinet Office for the purposes of the National Fraud Initiative and to comply with our requirements under the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014.
• His Majesty's Revenues and Customs (HMRC);
• Office for National Statistics to provide property level business rate data
• Other local authorities to ensure correct assessment of Non Domestic Rates liability, prevention of fraud or the recovery of amounts outstanding; and
• Other departments within Torbay Council including Council tax teams, housing, planning and civil enforcement. on a
  case by case basis to;
• Ensure details given are consistent with the assessment of Council Tax and Non Domestic Rates liability under the Local Government Finance Act 1988 and 1992 (as amended) and to protect Council funds;
• Enable recovery of outstanding Council Tax and Non Domestic Rates debts where necessary; and
• Prevent fraud and error under the Local Government Finance Act 1988 (as amended), the Non Domestic Rating (Collection and Enforcement) (Local Lists) Regulations 1989 and subsequent legislation.
• Ensure the information we hold is accurate
• Prevent, detect and prosecute fraudulent activity

How long do we keep your information?

We will hold personal data on a secure database for no longer than 7 years after the end of your liability.