Business rates
How your rates are calculated
Business rates are based on your property’s ‘rateable value’.
This is an estimate by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) of how much it would cost to rent a property for a year on 1 April 2021.
Your property will get a new rateable value on 1 April 2026.
You can find your rateable value and check how it was calculated.
Business rates are handled differently if your property is in Scotland or your property is in Northern Ireland.
Estimate your business rates
Your local council calculates your business rates bill using a ‘multiplier’. Your rateable value is multiplied by this number to get your final bill.
There’s guidance on how to estimate your business rates.
Your bill may be reduced if your property’s eligible for business rates relief.
If you think your rateable value is wrong
You can use your business rates valuation account to:
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report changes to your property (such as floor area sizes and parking)
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challenge your rateable value
You have until 31 March 2026 to challenge your current rateable value.
You can report changes to your property at any time.
You can challenge your new rateable value from 1 April 2026.
If you’re asked to provide rental information
The VOA may ask you to provide rental information about your property so they can work out its rateable value.
Contact the VOA if you need more time to send in your rental information.