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Business rates and business improvement districts privacy notice

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Who we are and what we do

The Revenues department is part of the Revenues and Benefits Service and is responsible for the efficient and effective billing, collection and recovery of Council Tax, Business Rates, Business Improvement District (BIDS) and Housing Benefit Overpayments.

Address: Revenues and Benefits Service

London Borough of Waltham Forest

PO Box 856

London E17 9PN

This privacy notice only relates to Business Rates and BIDS.

Why we need your information and how we use it Click to get info

We are required by legislation to levy and collect Business Rates and BIDS from those who are liable. That legislation is as follows:

  • The Non-Domestic Rating (Collection and Enforcement) (Local Lists) Regulations 1989
  • The Local Government Finance Acts 1988 and 1992
  • The Business Improvement Districts (England) Regulations 2004

We use your information for administering Business Rates and BIDS to set up an account for billing and collection purposes and for processing any reliefs and exemptions applicable.

What type of information is collected from you Click to get info

To bill and collect Business Rates payments we collect the name of individual traders  or business name, the property address, any other relevant addresses, bank details and details of occupancy/lease/freehold interest in the property.

To award reliefs and exemptions we require details such as trading account, proof of registration for charities etc.

We also collect phone numbers and email addresses for the purpose of communicating directly with you by email or text when you have missed a payment and/or to offer you a payment arrangement.

Who your information may be shared with (internally and externally) Click to get info

We will use your information for the purpose of performing any its statutory enforcement duties. We will make any disclosures required by law and may also share this information with other bodies responsible for detecting/preventing fraud or auditing/ administering public funds. We may share the details with other organisations that handle public funds and assist in the processing of other benefits.

We will share information with a third party where you have given us written permission to do so.

We will share information with Elected Members of the London Borough of Waltham Forest where they are pursing their legitimate functions and with Member of Parliament for the same reason.

How long we keep your information for Click to get info

We will not keep your information longer than what is necessary. We retain data for current taxpayers back to the start of their liability for business rates.

Where the business is no longer trading at that address, information will be held for six years after the account is paid in full.