Essex FSB (Federation of Small Businesses) has warned that 906 business in Thurrock are set to lose up to £3,000 each simply because they have failed to complete a single sided A4 from – and the deadline to claim the money from as far back as 01 April 2007 is Thursday 30 September 2010.
Essex FSB spokesman for Thurrock, Ross Bannister, said: “A survey from Leaseholders United published this week shows that 56 per cent of businesses in Thurrock entitled to claim Small Business Rate Relief have failed to do so.
“That is one of the highest levels of unclaimed rate relief of any council in Essex and places Thurrock in 41st place nationally out of 303 local councils in a league table where being near the top is bad news for local businesses!
“This means Thurrock has one of the highest proportions of unclaimed rate relief of any council in Essex which is not good news and we want those remaining 906 businesses to get their relief too.
“Between them those businesses are handing back to the Chancellor of the Exchequer a staggering £433,359 – money which we believe would be far better spent supporting the Thurrock economy which is why we are encouraging them to make their claim today.
“Small Business Rate Relief is available for firms in premises with a rateable value below £18,000 and can mean a saving of up to half their business rates which is a considerable sum.
“That saving can be claimed at any time for the current year but if firms wish to claim back as far as 01 April 2007 they must do so before the deadline of Thursday 30 September 2010.
“The claim form is one of the simplest produced by Government and is one side of A4 to complete with basic questions about the premises a business occupies so 15 minutes completing that form could earn a business up to £3,000!
