A guide to help you understand your Business Rates bill and find out how you can sign up to receive your bills by email (e-billing).
You will receive your annual Business Rates bill at the beginning of March each year.
Understanding your Business Rates bill
This image shows an example Business Rates bill. Each numbered section is explained in detail below.
- Business rates payer name(s) – This is the person(s) or company responsible for paying the bill, along with their correspondence address.
- Bill issue date – Any payments made after this date will not appear on this bill.
- Business Rates account number – You’ll need this number if you want to talk to us about your bill or want to make a payment.
- Property reference number - You'll need this number if you want to check your rateable value with the Valuation Office Agency.
- Property details and valuation - This included the property description, rateable value and the multipliers used to calculate the bill.
- How your bill is calculated - Each hereditament (property and/or land) is charged by multiplying its rateable value by the appropriate multiplier. Different multipliers apply depending on the property type and its rateable value.
- Property and or land this bill relates to - If different from your correspondence address, this section shows the address the bill covers.
- Multiplier used - This is the specific multiplier used to calculate your bill for this period.
- Bill Breakdown - A full breakdown of the charge, including any reliefs that have been applied. Please let us know if the occupier changes or if any reliefs or the multipliers are no longer applicable.
- Amount to pay – The total amount due after all the payments and reliefs have been applied.
- Instalments – The schedule showing how much you need to pay and on which dates. If you pay by Direct Debit, the bill will confirm this and show your collection dates.
Explanatory notes
- Explanatory notes 2025/2026
- Explanatory notes 2024/2025
- Explanatory notes 2023/2024
- Explanatory notes 2022/2023
- Explanatory notes 2021/2022
Sign up to get your bills by email (e-billing)
If you are not signed up to manage your Business Rates online yet, you can set up paperless billing when you register. To do this:
Register to manage your Business Rates online
Sign up for a @VOAgovuk business rates valuation account
Tell us about changes to your business
If you move address or your circumstances change during the financial year, please let us know straight away and we will adjust your bill.
If you think you may qualify for money off your Business Rates
In some cases, you may be entitled to money off your business rates bill
If you miss your Business Rates payments
We want to support you and recognise that at times, it can be difficult for you to pay your bills. Business Rates arrears is a priority debt which means you need to make your payments in full, on or before the dates listed on the front of your bill.