Small Business Rates Relief Nightmare

jjww_2

A bit of background first: My husband has a small business which he is a sole trader, he has been in business for 11 years and was entitled to small business rates relief.

In 2006 we bought another business in a different local authority, incorporated a a limited company and applied for small business rates relief. We were told to be eligible for it on this property (the most expensive of the two) we had to give it up on my husbands sole trader property.

Fast forward 5 years and I have just found out that we should have been eligible for it on both properties all along as they are completely seperate legal entities.

I have spoke to Councils who have confirmed this, and said they will change billing name on ltd company rates (at them moment it is under mine and my husbands name t/a business name ltd.) and then he will be entitled to t on sole trader property however they will only backdate till april.

Fuming that all of this time he was entitled but was repeatedly told he was not eligible.

jjww_2

Update:

Council have sent me a chque for £245 overpaid this year and I have none further to pay however they could only back date it till april 2011. At least we will benefit from small business rates relief on both businesses now.