Find out more about Business Rates

Find out more about Business Rates, including how your property is valued, rateable values, non-domestic multipliers and how your Business Rates charge is calculated.

About Business Rates

The Business Rate is a tax on all business and non-domestic properties. It is calculated by multiplying the Rateable Value of an individual property by the appropriate multiplier. The result of this calculation is the business rate payable for the year.This amount may be varied by Transitional Relief or Transitional Surcharge, dependent on the government's phasing arrangements.

All businesses benefit from the services which local authorities provide.

Businesses find some services more useful than others, for example, street lighting and road repairs or the police and fire services. Business Rates help pay for these services.

The money collected from the charge is shared between Local Government, Central Government and, in the case of Doncaster, South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue.

The rateable value of non-domestic properties is fixed, in most cases, by an independent officer of the Valuation Office Agency.

All properties on which Business Rates are payable and their Rateable Values are held in the Local Rating List. This list is prepared by the Valuation Office Agency and a copy can be inspected at:

• Go to Valuation Office Agency 

The current Rating List came in to force on 1st April 2023 and the rateable values  represent the open market rental value of each property as at 1st April 2021.

The valuation officer may alter the rateable value of a property, if he/she believes that its circumstances may have changed.

The ratepayer (and certain others who have an interest in the property) may also propose a change in value.

If, in any case, the ratepayer and the valuation officer do not agree, the matter will be referred, as an appeal to the Valuation Tribunal. Information about the circumstances in which a change in rateable value may be proposed and how such a proposal may be made is available from the Valuation Office Agency above.

Further information and advice about Valuation Tribunal Services is published in several information leaflets on the:

• Go to the Valuation Tribunal Service

How is my Business Rates charge calculated?

Your business Rates charge is calculated by multiplying your property's rateable value by the multiplier. 

The multiplier is the rate in the pound by which the rateable value is multiplied to produce the gross rates payable for the property and is set annually by the Government.

The current and historic multiplier can be found below:

What if I think that my Business Rates are too high?

Although the council collects the Business Rate, the actual Rateable Values of business properties, on which business rates are calculated, are set by The Inland Revenue Valuation Officer. Information on how to check and challenge your rateable value can be found at 

• Go to Valuation Office agency 

You can ask the Valuation Office Agency to check your rateable value if:

• you think the initial value shown in the Rating List is wrong
• the Valuation Officer has altered the value and you think it is wrong
• there has been a material change in circumstances affecting your property, e.g. part of the property has been demolished
• you think too much of your property is rated, e.g. part is domestic
• you think your property should be rated in separate parts or several properties should be rated as one
• there has been a decision of the Valuation Tribunal, the Lands Tribunal or the courts which you think has a bearing on the rateable value for your property
• you think there is an error in the Rating List for your property. For example, the address or description is incorrect or a change in rateable value is shown as taking effect from the wrong date.

Please note: if you check or challenge your rateable value your Business Rates can go up as well as down.

Do I have to pay while I am waiting for my check/challenge to be dealt with?

You cannot withhold any payment pending the outcome of a check/challenge. Legally the council must bill you based on the rateable value that the rating list shows at that time. You will be legally obliged to pay in accordance with the bill sent you.

The Valuation Officer can backdate amendments to the rateable value. Where this results in you having paid too much we will automatically refund any overpayment you have made. In addition you are entitled to statutory interest on that overpayment. The Government sets the rate of interest payable each year.

If you do not pay as demanded, and we have to enforce payment, you could forfeit the right to receive interest on any subsequent overpayment.

Rating Agents/Advisors

If you are contacted by someone claiming to be able to save money from your bill please note that there is no need to pay a fee or enter into a contract with a rating agent to obtain any type of Business Rates relief or discount or to ask for your rateable value to be reassessed. 

If you wish to appoint a rating agent/advisor to deal with your business rates account please be aware that agents that are members of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and the Institute of Revenues, Rating and Valuation are regulated by rules of professional conduct designed to protect the public from misconduct.

You should always check a firm or individuals background and professional status before signing a contract. You should check your contract carefully, including the length of the contract and make sure you understand the services you are paying for, as well as the costs and any additional fees involved.

Visit Appointing an agent for business rates  for more information on rating agents and who can help you deal with your business rates account.

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