Relief for local newspapers

You could be eligible for a discount worth up to £1,500 a year on your business rates if your office space is used by journalists and reporters by local newspapers.

You can only get relief for one premises per newspaper even if the newspaper uses more than one premises for offices.

If more than one local newspaper share the same premises or offices they can only get relief for one newspaper title.

This relief does not apply to magazines.

Contact our business rates team if you think you may be eligible or if you need to discuss this relief

More about relief for local newspapers

The Government provided funding to local authorities so they could provide a business rates discount for local newspapers.

This was due to run for 2 years from 1^st April 2017, then in the Autumn Budget 2018, the Government extended the scheme for an additional year 2019/2020.

This scheme provides up to a maximum of one discount per local newspaper title and per hereditament, and up to state aid limits.

The relief will be delivered through our discretionary discount powers (under section 47(3) of the Local Government Finance Act 1988).

Eligibility criteria for this relief is set out in “The case for a business rates relief for local newspapers” consultation outcome available at GOV.UK