Business Rates

Business rates are paid by occupiers of most business properties to local councils, for the contribution to the costs of local services.

If you have had a change in your circumstances which will impact your Business Rates account, please advise us by completing our online Change in Circumstances form

See the information below for help paying your bill.

Log into Open Portal (Previously Self Service) - Pay your Business Rates bill, tell us about a change of address and view your paperless e-billing. 

View our Appeals page - If you are not happy with a decision made about your rateable value or your liability to pay a bill.

Find out how to pay - Options to pay your business rates

Learn about business rates relief - Your property may be eligible for discounts from the local council on your business rates.

Find out how to contact us - Get in touch with us to discuss business rates.

Background

• Business Rates were introduced on 1 April 1990 at which time all Business premises were valued and their Rateable Values were entered into a local rating list.
• The Business Rate legislation allows for business properties to be revalued every 5 years. This is called a revaluation. The last revaluation took place in 1 April 2017.
• The new revaluation takes effect from 1 April 2023.

Calculation of business rates

• The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) (an agency of HM Revenues and Customs) sets the rateable value of business premises. The rateable value is shown on the front of the bill. The amount represents the annual rent that the property could be let for in the open market, on a particular date.
• The rateable value and the business rating multiplier (set by central government) is used to calculate your business rates bill (see multiplier table, below). If your rateable value is lower than £51,00 use the small business multiplier.

• Multiply your rateable value by your multiplier, to show you how much you need to pay minus any business rates relief.
• Read the Business Rates General Explanatory Notes 2024/25

Sign up for e-billing

We can send your Business Rates bills to you by email instead of through the post. See below for details.

The benefits of e-Billing

• You will receive your bill as soon as it is available
• It saves paper so is better for the environment
• It helps to reduce council spending by saving printing and postage costs
• You still have the option to print your bill or forward a copy to someone if you need to.

How to sign up for e-Billing

There are three ways to sign up for e-Billing:

• Send an email from the address you would like us to use with ‘Yes to e-Billing’ in the subject line and include your name and council tax account number (on your bill) or your address. Send your email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or you can register for our online Self Service account facility which includes e-Billing sign up and lets you view full details of your account
• Or you can call 03004 560 560 and ask to sign up for e-Billing.

What happens next?

• Once you have signed up for e-billing we will send future council tax bills to you by email unless you ask us to stop
• You must tell us if you change your email address
• We will contact you if our emails to you cannot be delivered because your email address is invalid.