Summary
This page contains information regarding Business Rates or National Non-Domestic Rates.
Business Rates or NNDR (National Non-Domestic Rates)
Business Rates, or National Non-Domestic Rates (NNDR), is a national tax collected from all occupiers or owners of non-domestic property.
Individual liability is fixed by applying a 'multiplier' or rate poundage to a rating assessment. The rate poundage is fixed annually by Central Government. Rating assessments are fixed by the Valuation Office Agency and reflect the rental value of the premises at a fixed point in time. Currently this date is the 1 April 2005.
Rental values will change with the passing of time, in response to market forces and changes in the economic climate. Central Government, as a result, has introduced Transitional Relief Schemes that apply to each successive national re-valuation, to stabilise the effect of those changes upon the business community.
To view a calculator for National Non-Domestic Rates visit the www.mybusinessrates.gov.uk| [external link] web site.
Local Authorities are responsible for billing and collecting business rates, but only as collection agents. The revenue collected is paid over to Central Government for subsequent re-distribution as grants to Local Authorities, to help fund local services.
Local Authorities also take responsibility for displaying the Rating List. This book contains details of all rating assessments within the Borough and is available for inspection during normal office hours. The Rating List is also available on-line via the Valuation Agency’s official web site at www.voa.gov.uk| [external link]
All non-domestic ratepayers usually have a right of appeal to the Valuation Office Agency against individual rating assessments.
Rating Advice
If you require advice about whether to appeal against a rateable value, you are advised to consult a reputable independent rating advisor. As not all rating advice companies operate in a reputable manner you should contact one of the following organisations first:
The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors web site at www.rics.org.uk| [external link], or
The Institute of Revenues, Rating and Valuation web site at www.irrv.org.uk| [external link]
Both of these organisations are regulated by rules of professional conduct designed to protect the public from malpractice; they are also required to hold adequate professional indemnity insurance.
How To Appeal Against Individual Rating Assessments
Information on how to appeal against your rating assessment can be found at the Office of the Deputy Prime Mininster's web site| [external link].
A guide to the relvaluation of business rates| is also available from the Valuation Tribunal Service.