Business rates

Which agency does what?

HMRC Valuation Office sets the rateable value on which charges are based. Find out your rateable value and information about your property valuation.

The Government sets the rating multiplier and make the national legislation and rules.

We bill and collect business rates on behalf of Central Government.

How is the business rates charge calculated?

We multiply the rateable value of an individual property, which is set by the Valuation Office by a 'multiplier' (the national non-domestic multiplier) set by central government.

From 1 April 2026

There are five multipliers:

The multiplier represents the number of pence in each pound of the rateable value that will be payable in Business Rates before any relief or discounts are applied.

Ratepayers who occupy a property with a rateable value which does not exceed £50,999 will have their bills calculated using the lower small business non-domestic rating multiplier or small business RHL multiplier, rather than the standard multiplier or standard RHL multiplier.

Those ratepayers who occupy qualifying retail, hospitality & leisure properties will have their bills calculated using the relevant retail, hospitality & leisure multiplier dependent on the rateable value. Government guidance about qualifying retail, hospitality and leisure properties can be found at: Business Rates Multipliers: Qualifying Retail, Hospitality or Leisure - GOV.UK.

The multiplier applied can be found on the front of your business rates bill.

Apply for retail hospitality and leisure multiplier

Prior to 1 April 2026

There are two multipliers, the standard non-domestic rating multiplier, and the small business rating multiplier. From 1 April 2024 both multipliers are based on the previous year's multiplier adjusted to reflect the Consumer Price Index inflation figure, unless a lower multiplier is set by Government. The multiplier represents the number of pence in each pound of the rateable value that will be payable in Business Rates before any relief or discounts are applied.

From 1 April 2024 all properties with a rateable value below £51,000 automatically have their rates calculated using the small business rating multiplier. Between 1 April 2017 and 31 March 2024 all occupied properties with a rateable value below £51,000 automatically had their rates calculated using the small business rating multiplier (unless already in receipt of Mandatory or Rural Rate Relief). Between 1 April 2012 and 31 March 2017 all occupied properties with a rateable value below £18,000 automatically had their rates calculated using the small business rating multiplier.

The multiplier applied can be found on the front of your business rates bill.