© Crown CopyrightInformation used with permission and is covered by Crown Copyright

IntroductionBusiness rates - the commonly used term for non-

domestic rates - are charged on most non-domestic premises, including most commercial properties such as shops, offices, pubs, warehouses and factories.

If you use a building or part of a building for business, you will probably have to pay business rates. Your premises will be given a rateable value by the Valuation Office Agency, which your local authority will use to calculate how much you should pay.

Business RatesBusiness rates is a local tax that is paid by the

occupiers of non-domestic property in England and Wales.

Business rates help to pay for local services. How much you pay will depend on:the rateable value of the property, which is set by

the Valuation Office Agency (VOA)what multiplier is set by central governmentwhat rate relief schemes you are eligible for, which

are applied by your local council when they work out your bill

What business rates are used forBusiness rates are calculated and collected by your local

authority. They are put in a central pool and then redistributed to local authorities to meet the needs of particular authorities.

The money raised through business rates is used to help fund local services like the police, fire and rescue services.

Your local authority will send you your business rates bill in February or March each year. This will be for the next financial year - for example, April 2012 to March 2013.

The current multipliersThe multiplier is used by your local authority

when calculating your business rates bill. It indicates the percentage, or pence in the pound, of the rateable value that you will pay in business rates.

* indicates a revaluation year

The current multipliers

The current multipliers

The business rate multiplierThe multiplier is used by your local authority

when calculating your business rates bill. It's also known as the 'uniform business rate'.

The multiplier indicates the percentage, or pence in the pound, of the rateable value that you will pay in business rates. It is set at each revaluation by Communities and Local Government in England and the Welsh Government. The City of London can set its own multiplier.

The business rate multiplierThe standard multiplier is calculated by adding

supplement to the small business rate multiplier to fund small business rate relief. The small business rate relief multiplier increases each year by the annual Retail Prices Index inflation rate for September.

The small business rate multiplierThe small business rate multiplier is a reduced

multiplier used in England when the council calculates the bill for any businesses who qualify for small business rate relief. The way the relief applies varies between England and Wales.

How the multiplier works at revaluationRevaluation takes place every five years to

maintain fairness by ensuring that rateable values reflect changes in the property market. The most recent revaluation came into effect on 1 April 2010. At revaluation, the multipliers are revised so that the overall national business rates bill only changes in line with inflation. This means that a change in your rateable value does not always mean a corresponding change in your bill.

How the multiplier works at revaluationFor example, you might be paying rates on a

building in Manchester and the rateable value increases, at revaluation, from £14,800 to £17,400. The change in the multiplier means the bill actually goes down.

Local authority rating listsThe rating lists are lists of all the rateable values for

non-domestic property in England and Wales. There is a separate list for each local authority that calculates and collects business rates bills.

New rating lists are published every five years, at revaluation:The 2010 list came into effect on 1 April 2010 and will

last until the next revaluationThe 2005 list came into effect on 1 April 2005 and lasted

until 31 March 2010The 2000 list came into effect on 1 April 2000 and lasted

until 31 March 2005

Local authority rating listsIf there is a 'material change', or some other

reason for altering the rateable value, its entry is altered in the rating list.

The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) also publishes draft lists six months before new lists are published. This gives you the opportunity to check your new valuation before your local authority calculates your business rates bill.

The central rating listThe central rating list contains the rating

assessments of the network property of major transport, utility and telecommunications undertakings and cross-country pipelines. There is a single entry in the rating list for each company named in The Central Rating List Regulations 2005.

There are separate regulations and lists for England and Wales.

The central rating listA single aggregate rateable value is given for all

the property occupied by a named ratepayer that falls within their definition in the regulations. Any property occupied by that ratepayer that falls outside the definition will be shown individually in a local rating list.

Rates on central rating list properties in England are paid directly to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, and in Wales to the Welsh Government.

Professional rating bodiesThere are several professional organisations that can

put you in touch with a qualified rating surveyor. Rating surveyors - often known as rating agents - can provide advice on your rateable value or represent you when dealing with the Valuation Office Agency (VOA).

The majority of agents are reputable, and will belong to one of the following professional organisations:The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)The Institute of Revenues, Rating and Valuation (IRRV)The Rating Surveyors Association (RSA)

Professional rating bodiesYou may be charged for any professional rating

advice that you receive from these bodies right from the start. You can call the RICS Enquiry Line on Tel 0870 333 1600 to consult with a local chartered surveyor - the first 30 minutes of the consultation will be free.

If you want to consult an agent, you can:Ask the professional organisations for a list of

reputable agents in your areaCheck the credentials of an agent who has approached

you with their professional organisation

FormalitiesAll the information provided is for informational purposes

only and you should seek specialist personalised advice as required. As such, we accept no liability for the actions taken by the readers of this slideshow.

All information was provided by Business Link and is covered by Crown Copyright.

All information is available as shown below: BusinessLink (2012) Business rates - an overview. Available at:

http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/layer?r.i=1086066721&r.l1=1073858808&r.l2=1073859221&r.l3=1086066107&r.s=sc&r.t=RESOURCES&topicId=1086066107 [Accessed: 18th August 2012]

THE END - THANKS FOR COMINGFor more information,

Twitter: @JasonCatesSlideShare: slideshare.net/AdrJasonCatesVisit BusinessLink.Gov.uk

Information fromBusiness Link