Skip to content
Accessibility Tools

If you think your business rates are wrong

Closure of the 2023 rating list and compiled list 

The new non-domestic rating lists will come into effect in England and Wales on 1 April 2026. Businesses can check their future valuations and let valuation office know if anything is wrong, in advance of the final list being published and their new business rates bill being issued.
 
The 2023 rating lists will close to Checks and Challenges when the new list is published. This means that ratepayers have until 31 March 2026 to make sure that the information the valuation office hold about their property on the 2023 list is correct, and to let them know if it isn’t. 


To do this, ratepayers will need to make a Check using their business rates valuation account, with the Valuation Office Agency - www.voa.gov.uk, If you don’t already have an account, you will need to leave enough time to register and claim, as this can take up to 15 days.

Your rates bill is worked out based on the rateable value (RV) of your property. The RV is not determined by the council but by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA), an agency of HM Revenue & Customs.

If you are unhappy with your business rates, you can make an appeal.

If you decide to make an appeal, you must continue to pay your business rates while your appeal is outstanding.

If you disagree with your rateable value

There is a new business rates appeal process in England from 1 April 2017 known as check, challenge, appeal. The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) deals with checks and challenges, while the independent Valuation Tribunal for England handles appeals.

If you think your rateable value is incorrect, contact the Valuation Office (VOA). You'll need to explain the reasons why you think your rateable value is wrong.

The VOA will compare your rateable value with similar properties in the area and consider any other reasons you have mentioned.

The Valuation Officer will notify the council of the appeal outcome, and a bill will be issued advising any changes if applicable to the amount payable.