Business rates

Business Rates (also called Non‑Domestic Rates) are a local tax charged on most commercial properties, such as shops, offices, pubs, warehouses and factories. The amount a business pays is calculated using:

• Rateable Value (RV) – set by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA), based on the estimated annual rent the property could have achieved on the open market at a set valuation date.
• Business Rates Multiplier – set annually by the Government and applied per £1 of rateable value.

We use these values to calculate individual bills and to apply any reliefs or discounts for which a property qualifies.  A rateable value is not the same as the amount you pay, because your bill also depends on multiplier changes and any reliefs available.

Business rates help fund local services.

Changes from 1 April 2026

• From 1 April 2026, the Government is making significant changes to how Business Rates are calculated. These changes include:
• Full Revaluation (based on rental values as at 1 April 2024).
• End of Retail, Hospitality & Leisure (RHL) Relief from 31 March 2026.
• Introduction of new multipliers. These multipliers come into force 1 April 2026 and reflect the new five‑tier system introduced following the 2026 revaluation.