Your business rates bill explained

Explanatory notes

See the downloads section to read the explanatory notes for the current business rates. 

What is my Rateable Value?

The Rateable Value (shown as RV) is entered on the left hand side of the rate bill almost half way down, under the property description. The figure next to the letters RV is the rateable value for the property for which the demand is issued.

The annual charge payable is worked out by multiplying the rateable value by the national rate poundage.

Why has my bill changed?

The top right hand corner of the bill under the Account Number states the reason for demand. This may be a valuation amendment, new account, or other stated reason and should explain why a bill has been produced.  For further information please contact the non-domestic rate section.

National Non-Domestic Rating Multiplier

The local council works out the Business Rates bill by multiplying the rateable value of the property by the multiplier or ‘poundage’ which the Government sets from 1 April each year for the whole of England. The Government normally changes the multiplier every year to move in line with inflation. By law, the multiplier cannot go up by more than the rate of inflation, except in the year of a revaluation when it is set at a level which will keep the total amount raised in rates after the revaluation the same as before, plus inflation for that year. The current multiplier will be shown on the front of the bill.