Business Rates Changes 2026
The next revaluation comes it effect on 1 April 2026, and rateable values will be calculated based upon the amount of rent a property could have been let for on the valuation date of 1 April 2024.
The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) are currently preparing the future values which will come into effect from 1 April 2026, but there are actions you can take now to be prepared.
If you own a property that might be liable to pay business rates – here is everything you need to know about the 2026 Revaluation: Valuation Office Agency - Revaluation 2026 – everything you need to know.
Future rateable values for non-domestic properties that come into effect on 1 April 2026 were published on 26 November 2025. You can see details about these valuations through the VOA on your Business Rates Valuation Account GOV.UK - Registering for a business rates valuation account or through the GOV.UK - Find a Business Rates Valuation Service.
For further guidance, you can visit GOV.UK - Help with the 2026 business rates revaluation.
There is a Government tool available to estimate your business rates liability - this is suitable for all business premises including pubs and music venues. To use this tool you will need your current and future rateable values and may need to refer to your current rates bill. GOV.UK - Estimate your business rates liability.
Valuation Office Agency (VOA) contact details
You can visit GOV.UK - Contact VOA or if you are unable to use the online service, you can also phone the VOA on 03000 501 501.
What is a Revaluation?
The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) updates the rateable values of non-domestic properties in England and Wales every three years. This is known as a revaluation. Rateable values are the amount of rent a property could have been let for on a set valuation date, previous valuation dates have been set as follows:
| Revaluation date | Valuation date |
|---|---|
| 1 April 2010 | 1 April 2008 |
| 1 April 2017 | 1 April 2015 |
| 1 April 2023 | 1 April 2021 |
| 1 April 2026 | 1 April 2024 |
Rateable values are used by local councils as a basis to calculate business rate bills and revaluations make sure that these bills are based on up-to-date information.
A change in your rateable value does not always mean a change in your bill.
The Valuation Office Agency have published a video with more information about the process: YouTube - What is a revaluation?
Business Rates Multipliers 2026-27
Following the passing of the Non-Domestic Rating (Multipliers and Private Schools) Act 2025, from 1 April 2026, the system of calculating bills will change, moving from 2 multipliers to 5 multipliers.
This new system is designed to deliver permanent support for those properties used for qualifying Retail, Hospitality and Leisure properties, replacing the previous relief schemes which were granted annually.
The new system has also been designed to increase contributions for larger businesses, such as distribution warehouses occupied by online giants, who occupy properties with the highest rateable values.
The Non-Domestic Rating (Definition of Qualifying Retail, Hospitality or Leisure Hereditament) Regulations 2025 determines that the Retail, Hospitality or Leisure (RHL) multipliers will only apply to occupied hereditaments which are “wholly or mainly” used for a qualifying purpose. In determining eligibility, local authorities will need to consider what the main use of the hereditament is based on the governments guidance: GOV.UK - Business Rates Multipliers: Qualifying Retail, Hospitality or Leisure
The Non-Domestic Rating Multipliers for 2026-27 will be as follows:
| Property Classification and Rateable Value | 2026-27 Multiplier |
| Small business RHL multiplier, RHL properties only, RV below £51,000* | 38.2p |
| Small business multiplier, non-RHL properties, RV below £51,000 | 43.2p |
| Standard RHL multiplier, RHL properties only, RV £51,000 - £499,999* | 43.0p |
| Standard multiplier, non-RHL properties, RV £51,000 - £499,999 | 48.0p |
| High-value multiplier, all properties, RV £500,000 and above | 50.8p |
Business Rates Relief Package
At the Budget on 26 November 2025, the Chancellor announced the government would provide a package of reliefs to support businesses.
For 2026-27, this includes:
Transitional Relief
To support ratepayers facing large bill increases at the revaluation, the government has introduced a redesigned Transitional Relief (TR) Scheme. Transitional Relief is designed to cap business rates bill increases which result from rateable value changes at the 2026 revaluation, these increases will then be phased in over three years. Properties with reductions in rateable values from the 2026 revaluation will see the full benefit of that reduction in their new Business Rates Bill from 1 April 2026.
Bill Increase Caps:
| Rateable Value | 2026 to 2027 | 2027 to 2028 | 2028 to 2029 |
| Up to £20,000 | 5% | 10% plus inflation | 25% plus inflation |
| £20,001 to £100,000 | 15% | 25% plus inflation | 40% plus inflation |
| Over £100,000 | 30% | 25% plus inflation | 25% plus inflation |
More information about the 2026 Transitional Relief Scheme can be found here: GOV.UK - Business rates relief: Transitional relief.
Transitional Relief Supplement
The government has also introduced a 1p supplement to the relevant tax rate for ratepayers who do not receive Transitional Relief or Supporting Small Business Rate Relief. This is to partially fund the TR scheme for 2026 and will apply for one year from 1 April 2026.
2026 Supporting Small Business Scheme (SSB relief)
This relief caps the increase in rates for businesses losing some or all of their small business rates relief or rural rate relief as a result of the 2026 revaluation. This caps the increase in your bill at either £800 per year or the relevant Transitional Relief percentage as shown above, whichever is higher. The 2026 SSB relief scheme has been expanded to ratepayers losing their RHL relief.
The government has also announced a one-year extension of the 2023 Supporting Small Business scheme to 1 April 2027. Ratepayers who qualify for this extension will not qualify for the three-year 2026 SSB scheme. This support is applied before changes in other reliefs and local supplements, more information on SSB can be found here: GOV.UK - Business rates relief: Supporting small business relief.
Extending the Small Business Rates Relief (SBRR) grace-period from one to three years
Since 2014, businesses that take on additional properties, which would normally mean the loss of their Small Business Rate, keep their existing Small Business Rate Relief for a 12-months 'grace period' after taking on the additional property. This grace period has been extended to 3 years for ratepayers who take on additional properties on or after 27 November 2025 only.
Pubs and live music venues relief
On 27 January 2026, the Government announced that in 2026-27, eligible pubs and live music venues will benefit from an additional 15% business rates relief on top of the support announced in the 2025 budget. Their bills will then be frozen in real terms for a further 2 years.
Full guidance is expected from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MCHLG) shortly.