The civil penalty for non-return of Request for information form

The civil penalty was brought in with the Local Government Act 2003. It is a system of penalties to support our statutory requests for information to carry out our work, valuing business and non-domestic property for business rates purposes.

We use the information gathered from the Request for information forms to ensure our assessments are fair and accurate.

How does the civil penalty system work?

VOA issues Statutory request for information from the ratepayer.

Recipient has 56 days to return the form.
The Civil Penalty does not apply if the information requested is returned within this time.

VOA also issue reminder and warning letters within 56 days period to ensure that recipient is fully informed on timescales involved and to encourage return of information.

After 56 days have expired
VOA applies a 100 penalty to encourage prompt return of information.

After a further 21 days have expired
A further 100 penalty is applied.

For every day that the information requested remains unreturned
20 per day is payable.