Check and challenge your business rates valuation: privacy notice
The Valuation Office Agency's (VOA) responsibilities with personal information obtained through the check and challenge service.
This privacy notice is part of the Valuation Office Agency’s (VOA) business rates challenge process known as check, challenge, appeal. The notice covers the VOA’s check and challenge digital service. Appeals are handled separately by the independent Valuation Tribunals for England and Wales.
The VOA is an Executive Agency of HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). HMRC is the Data Controller for personal data processed by VOA.
How we use your information
We use the information you provide to:
- verify your identity with HMRC when you create an account on the digital service
- verify your right to view information we hold
- display and receive property and valuation details and consider whether an amendment to the rating list is appropriate
Under the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005, when we obtain information for one of our functions we may use that information for our other lawful functions.
The legal basis for processing the information
The VOA provides this service in connection with its responsibilities under the Non-Domestic Rating (Alteration of Lists and Appeals) (England) Regulations 2009 (as amended).
Under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the legal basis for processing your information is the exercise of official authority under Article 6 of GDPR.
Sharing information with third parties
We send information about your challenge to your local council and others who have a right to see it such as the owner or occupier.
The VOA will send the following information to your local council:
- details which identify your property
- date that the challenge was submitted
- current rateable value
- proposed rateable value and the date that it should apply from
- outcome of the challenge
The owner and occupier can ask:
- for updates on the progress of the challenge
- to consent to any agreed alteration
Where the challenge is made by the owner, the VOA will also send a copy, including the supporting evidence, to the occupier.
Under the Local Government Finance Act 1988, any person can ask to view a copy of your challenge. We do not share your information with other parties unless it is lawful to do so.
If you have any questions about information being shared, email ccaservice@voa.gov.uk.
How long we hold your information
We aim to retain your personal information for only as long as is necessary to undertake our functions and in line with our retention and disposal policy. We also adhere to any legal or regulatory requirements for retaining or deleting the information.
Your rights
You have the right to:
- request a copy of the personal information we hold about you
- have any inaccuracies in the personal information corrected
- request that your personal information is erased where there is no lawful justification for us continuing to process it
- object to the processing of your personal information
- request the restriction of processing of your personal information
In some circumstances, we can restrict the application of the rights where exemptions apply. For example, where compliance with a right would be likely to prejudice the prevention or detection of crime, the apprehension or prosecution of offenders, or the assessment or collection of a tax or duty.
Contact us
To request a copy of the information we hold about you or to make a complaint, contact:
Complaints Resolution team
Valuation Office Agency
Wycliffe House
Green Lane
Durham
DH1 3UW
complaints@voa.gov.uk
HMRC has appointed a Data Protection Officer to oversee compliance with data protection obligations. To contact the Data Protection Officer, email advice.dpa@hmrc.gov.uk.
You also have the right to make a complaint to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). You can contact the ICO here:
The Information Commissioner
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
casework@ico.org.uk
You can find more information about data protection and your rights on the ICO website.
Updates to this page
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Updated the section on sharing information with others, clarifying who can ask for information on a challenge and what kind of details are shared with them.
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Complaints investigation team has undergone a name change, address change and have a new email. Their details have been updates.
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First published.