State Aid  Rating Advisers  Information Supplied with Demand Notices  PART 2  Explanatory Notes for Special Authorities  Non-Domestic Rates  “ EXPLANATORY NOTES  Business Rates Instalments  The award of discretionary relief[s] is considered likely to amount to state aid. However, it  will be state aid compliant where it is provided in accordance with the De Minimis  Regulation EC 1407/2013. The De Minimis Regulation allows an undertaking to receive up  to EUR 200,000 ‘de minimis’ aid over a rolling three-year period. If you are receiving, or  have received, any ‘de minimis’ aid granted during the current or two previous financial  years (from any source), you should inform the local authority immediately with details of  the aid received.  Ratepayers do not have to be represented in discussions about the rateable value of their  property or their rates bill. However, ratepayers who do wish to be represented should be  aware that members of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS - website  www.rics.org) and the Institute of Revenues, Rating and Valuation (IRRV - website  www.irrv.org.uk) are qualified and are regulated by rules of professional conduct designed  to protect the public from misconduct. Before you employ a rating adviser or company you  should check that they have the necessary knowledge and expertise, as well as appropriate  indemnity insurance. Take great care and, if necessary, seek further advice before entering  into any contract.  Information relating to the relevant and previous financial years in regard to the gross  expenditure of the local authority is available at [website address of local authority where  information is published]. A hard copy is available on request by writing to the local  authority or at [telephone number].”  Non-Domestic Rates, or business rates, collected by local authorities are the way that those  who occupy non-domestic property contribute towards the cost of local services. Under the  business rates retention arrangements introduced from 1st April 2013, authorities keep a  proportion of the business rates paid locally. The money, together with revenue from  council tax payers, locally generated income and grants from central government, is used to  pay for the services provided by local authorities in your area. Further information about  the business rates system may be obtained at: www.gov.uk/introduction-to-business-rates,  at the website of your local authority which is normally shown on your rates bill, or by  contacting your local authority.  Payment of business rates bills is automatically set on a 10-monthly cycle. However, the  Government has put in place regulations that allow ratepayers to require their local  authority to enable payments to be made through 12 monthly instalments. If you wish to  take up this offer, you should contact your local authority as soon as possible.  5