The Small Business Rate Relief (SBRR) scheme, which can offer reduced payments of up to 50% for small businesses, applies to those working from single premises with rateable values below £15,000, or £21,500 in London.

It also applies to those in multiple premises which each have a rateable value of below £2,200 and where the total value is less than the above thresholds.

A Forum of Private Business (FPB) spokesman said:

"Many business owners will be unaware of this deadline. It does not apply to everyone, but they need to check their rates to see if they are eligible, and get their applications in if they are."