You may be aware that several important changes are coming into effect that could impact your business rates bill for 2026/27. We understand that business rates can be complex, so we have summarised the key points to help you better understand how your bill is calculated and what to expect from April 2026.


We will automatically apply the correct multiplier to your Business Rates account and identify any reliefs you qualify for, applying these directly to your 2026/27 annual bill.


However, if you receive your 2026/27 annual bill and believe you have not been awarded the correct multiplier / relief that you expected, please contact us so we can review your account. Your 2026 Business Rates Annual Bill will be issued week commencing 9th March 2026.

1. What is a Rateable Value (RV)?

  • The rateable value is the estimated annual rent your commercial property could achieve on the open market at a specific valuation date.
  • It is determined by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA), not by the landlord or tenant.
  • It is not the amount you pay in business rates, nor is it the rent you actually pay.

Your business rates bill is calculated by multiplying the rateable value by a government set multiplier.

2. New Multipliers from 1 April 2026

From 2026/27, the Government is introducing new multipliers, including specific ones for the retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) sectors and for high value properties. The multipliers are:

  • Small business RHL (RV up to £51,000): 38.2p

  • Small business – other sectors (RV up to £51,000): 43.2p

  • Standard RHL (RV over £51,000): 43.0p

  • Standard – other sectors (RV over £51,000): 48.0p

  • High value properties (all sectors, RV over £500,000): 50.8p

Further Information can be found here.


3. Revaluation from 1 April 2026


  • Revaluations take place every three years in England and Wales to ensure rateable values reflect current property market conditions.
  • As a result, your rateable value—and therefore your bill—may increase or decrease.
  • The VOA has updated the rateable values for all commercial and non domestic properties, and these new values will apply from 1 April 2026


4. Changes to Reliefs

  • The Supporting Small Business (SSB) Scheme: offers assistance to businesses that lose entitlement to Small Business Rate Relief, Rural Rate Relief, or Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Relief as a result of the revaluation. Bills will be capped at the higher of £800 or the relevant transitional relief cap.
  • Transitional Relief: Limits the amount your bill can increase, phasing changes in over three years.

    Rateable Value (RV)

    2026/2027

    2027/2028

    2028/2029

    Small RV (Up to £20,000)

    5%

    10%

    25%

    Medium RV (£20,001 to £100,000)

    15%

    25%

    40%

    Large RV (Over £100,000)

    30%

    25%

    25%
  • Transitional Relief Supplement: A temporary 1p business rate increase applied (added to the business rates multiplier) for properties not receiving transitional relief or the Supporting Small Business Scheme, This is designed to partially fund the transitional relief scheme for others.
  • Extended Small Business Rates: Businesses that no longer qualify for Small Business Rate Relief will receive a three year grace period before the relief is fully removed.

5. Other Key Changes

  • Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Relief: This relief has been withdrawn and replaced by the new RHL multipliers listed above.
  • Pubs and Live Music Venues: An additional 15% relief will apply for 2026/27.
  • Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Points: A 100% relief will apply for EV charging points or EV only forecourts for a period of 10 years.


6. Contacting the Valuation Office Agency


If you believe your rateable value is incorrect, you will need to contact the VOA directly.
You can do this via:
Contact VOA - GOV.UK 
Further guidance is also available on Help with the 2026 business rates revaluation - GOV.UK