When we calculate your business rates bill, three factors are taken into consideration:
- the Rateable Value (RV) for your premises
- the multiplier for your business
- any reliefs your business is entitled to
The RV is the estimated annual rent your property could have been let for on a set date. This is not the same as the rent you currently pay. The RV is set by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA), and changes every three years.
Calculate the RV for your premises on GOV.UK
The multiplier is the tax rate that applies to your business. It is set by the government and changes each year.
The reliefs are any discounts your business may be able to claim. These are also set by the government.
Find more information on business rates, including relief and RV on GOV.UK
In the Autumn 2025 UK Budget, the government announced changes to all three of these factors. These will affect how we calculate your future bills.
Rateable Value (RV) and multipliers changes, and transitional relief
Rateable Value changes
Every three years, the VOA updates the RVs. This is known as a revaluation to reflect changes in the market.
The next revaluation comes into effect on 1 April 2026, and the set date for the estimate rent value is 1 April 2024.
After revaluation, your bill may increase, decrease or stay the same. A rise in your RV does not always mean your bill will increase by a similar amount.
Multiplier changes
In the Autumn 2025 UK Budget, the government created two new multipliers. These are lower than previous multipliers. They apply to Retail, Hospitality and Leisure (RHL) businesses with properties with RVs below £500,000.
We decide which businesses are eligible for these new multipliers, in line with government guidance.
Find information on new RHL business rates multipliers on GOV.UK
| Category | Rateable Value | Multiplier |
|---|---|---|
| Small business (RHL) | Below £51,000 | 38.2p |
| Small business (non-RHL) | Below £51,000 | 43.2p |
| Standard (RHL) | £51,000 to £499,999 | 43.0p |
| Standard (non-RHL) | £51,000 to £499,999 | 48.0p |
| Large (all properties) | £500,000 and above | 50.8p |
Transitional Relief
The government is introducing a redesigned Transitional Relief scheme worth £3.2 billion. This will support businesses facing large bill increases after revaluation.
You do not need to apply for Transitional Relief. We will apply it to your bill automatically.
Transitional Relief supplement
You will have to pay a 1p supplement on your tax rate if your business does not qualify for:
- Transitional Relief
- the Supporting Small Business scheme
We will apply this to your bill from 1 April 2026 for one year. The government is applying it to cover some of the cost of the Transitional Relief scheme.
Relief scheme changes and additions
Supporting Small Business (SSB) scheme 2026
This scheme helps to limit how much your business rates bill will increase. It will apply if your business is losing discounts for any of the following reliefs:
- small business rates relief
- rural rate relief
- RHL relief
The SSB scheme will mean your bill will only increase by a maximum of £800, or the relevant transitional relief cap from 1 April 2026 (whichever benefits you the most).
We will apply this to your bill before calculating changes in other reliefs and local supplements.
You do not need to apply for the SSB scheme. We will apply any relief to your bill automatically.
Small Business Rates Relief
The grace period for Small Business Rates Relief (SBRR) is extending from one to three years.
Businesses will keep their SBRR on their first property for three years after they take on a second property, instead of one year.
Electric Vehicle Charging Point (EVCP) relief
You can claim 100% relief for 10 years if your business installs:
- charging points for eligible electric vehicles
- builds forecourts that only service electric vehicle
This relief will be assessed separately by the VOA. The government will set up scheme regulations, but we do not have any further details at present.
Disputing your valuation
We are responsible for anything to do with your business rates bill. This includes adding any relief you might be eligible for.
The VOA is responsible for the valuation of your property.
Contact the VOA for more information about your property’s RV
If you think your valuation is incorrect
You will need a business rates valuation account if you
- think your valuation is wrong
- want to make changes to property details (such as floor area sizes and parking)
Create a business rates valuation account on GOV.UK
You cannot challenge your 2026 valuation until 1 April 2026.
Any changes made to your current valuation could result in your RV going up or down. This may also affect your future valuation from 1 April 2026.
You have until 31 March 2026 to request any changes to your current RV. After that, you will only be able to request changes to your new valuation.