Tax news · June 2026
Business rates were revalued from April 2026 using updated property values. Here is what it means for your premises and what you can do.
If your business occupies premises, your business rates were recalculated from April 2026 under a revaluation. Business rates are based on the rateable value of a property, broadly its open market rent at a set date, and these values are refreshed periodically so that bills reflect changes in the property market. The 2026 revaluation updates those values, which means some businesses pay more and others less.
From 1 April 2026, new rateable values came into effect, based on property values at an earlier valuation date. Your bill is worked out by applying a multiplier to your rateable value, and there are reliefs that reduce it, including small business rate relief for smaller premises. Alongside the revaluation, the Government has been reshaping the multipliers, including lower rates aimed at retail, hospitality and leisure businesses, so the change is not just about the new values but about how the bill is calculated.
This affects any business that occupies non domestic property, such as shops, offices, workshops, warehouses, pubs and restaurants. Whether you are better or worse off depends on what has happened to property values in your area and sector since the last revaluation. Businesses in areas where rents have risen strongly may see higher bills, while those in areas that have struggled may see relief. Many small businesses pay little or nothing because of small business rate relief, and it is important to make sure you are getting it.
The first step is to check your new rateable value, which you can do through the Valuation Office, and make sure it looks right, because errors do happen and an overstated value means an overstated bill. Make sure you are claiming every relief you qualify for, especially small business rate relief and any sector specific relief. If you genuinely believe your rateable value is too high, there is a formal process to challenge it, although it needs evidence. And if a higher bill is coming, it is worth building it into your budgeting early.
Our view is that business rates are one of the most overlooked costs for small businesses, and many pay more than they need to simply because they have never checked their rateable value or claimed the reliefs available. The revaluation is a good prompt to look at this properly. We would not rush into a formal challenge without evidence, because it can occasionally backfire, but we would strongly encourage every business to check their value, claim their reliefs, and not just pay the bill that lands without question.
We help businesses check their rateable value, claim the reliefs they are entitled to, and budget for their rates, and we can point you to specialist help if a formal challenge is worthwhile. Book a free call back and we will review your position.
A revaluation took effect from April 2026, updating the rateable value of properties to reflect the property market. Your bill applies a multiplier to that value, so a new value changes the bill, up or down depending on your area and sector.
Check your rateable value is correct, claim every relief you qualify for such as small business rate relief, and challenge an overstated value with evidence through the formal process if it is genuinely too high.
We will help you check your rateable value and claim every relief available. Book a free call back and we will review it.