Northern Ireland Finance Minister John O’Dowd announced extensions to the Small Business Rate Relief, Back in Business, and rural ATM exemption schemes for the 2026/27 financial year. The decision came after an Assembly debate on Tuesday.

Around 30,000 businesses will keep reductions of 20% to 50% on their rates bills under the Small Business Rate Relief extension. This holds while consultations on possible improvements continue. O’Dowd plans to seek broader coverage after the Budget process, using £10 million from draft proposals to aid more employers.

The Back in Business scheme offers a 50% rates discount for up to two years on retail properties vacant for at least 12 months. Since May 2024, it has aided 113 businesses with over £600,000 in support.

The rural ATM exemption continues to preserve cash access in communities amid falling bank numbers.

The Assembly also set Regional Rate increases at 5% for domestic properties and 3% for non-domestic ones. Households face an average weekly rise of 63p on the Regional Rate portion. The changes will generate over £900 million for public services including hospitals, childcare, and schools next year.