Calculating your business rates
Your business rates bill is calculated by applying a multiplier to the rateable value of the premises.
Rateable value
The rateable value is set by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) and it is shown on your bill. The VOA draw up and maintain a full list of all rateable values.
The rateable value of your property represents the yearly rent the property could have been let for on the open market on a particular date.
Business rates are updated every three years to reflect changes in the property market. This process is called Revaluation. 2026 sees the latest Revaluation, with new rateable values being used from 1 April 2026.
Appealing your rateable value
The valuation office may alter the value if circumstances change. The ratepayer (and certain others who have an interest in the property) can appeal against the value shown in the list if they believe it is wrong.
For more information, visit how to check and challenge your rateable value on the GOV.UK website.
You do not have to be represented to make an appeal. If you wish to be represented check that they are knowledgeable, experienced, and have appropriate indemnity insurance. Members of the following institutes are qualified and regulated by rules of professional conduct:
- Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)
- The Institute of Revenues Rating and Valuation (IRRV)
Business rates multipliers
In previous years there have only been two multipliers set by Government – the standard multiplier and the small business multiplier – but changes to Retail Hospitality or Leisure schemes have resulted in there being five multipliers from 1 April 2026.
|
Standard Non-Domestic Rating Multiplier |
48.0p | Applies to Non-RHL properties with an RV between £51,000 and £499,000 |
|
Small Business Non-Domestic Multiplier |
43.2p | Applies to Non-RHL properties with an RV below £51,000 |
|
Standard RHL Multiplier |
43.0p | Applies to qualifying RHL properties with an RV between £51,000 and £499,000 |
|
Small Business RHL Multiplier |
38.2 | Applies to qualifying RHL properties with an RV below £51,000 |
|
High-Value Multiplier |
50.8p | Applies to all properties with an RV of £500,000 and above |
Further information on the new RHL multipliers can be found at Business Rates Multipliers: Qualifying Retail, Hospitality or Leisure - GOV.UK
If you believe your premises should be calculated using one of the new RHL multipliers and it is not showing on your bill, please contact us on 01285 623034.
Transitional relief
Transitional relief limits how much your bill can change each year as a result of revaluation. Businesses will receive Transitional Relief if their rates go up by more than an amount set by Government and is designed to gradually phase in the increases. The transitional arrangements are applied automatically and are shown on your bill.
Transitional Relief Supplement
The Government has introduced a 1p supplement to help fund Transitional relief. This supplement will apply for one year from 1 April 2026. It is calculated by taking the RV of the property and multiplying it by 1p.
So, for example, a property with a 10,500 RV would pay a supplement of £105.00.
Our software shows the 1p supplement on all bills.
Ratepayers receiving Transitional Relief or Supporting Small Businesses Relief will not pay the supplement, so it is offset on the bill within the relief calculation.
Business rates data
We receive a high volume of Freedom of Information requests for information about rate relief and empty properties with rateable values. We will now make the data available and it will be updated quarterly.
The current Non-Domestic Rates (NDR) database contains details of all properties including rateable value (RV) and any reliefs or exemptions awarded:
