Working out your business rates - Derby City Council

About business rates

You will have to pay business rates if you own, lease or occupy a building or part of a building for non-domestic purposes, like a shop or office. Your business rates bill is calculated by us. We will send you a bill for the next tax year in February or March. If the charge changes for any reason, we will send you a revised bill.

Introduction of new multipliers

From 1 April 2026, business rates is moving from two multipliers to five, reflecting business type and property value. These were confirmed in the Autumn Budget 2025.

The new retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) multipliers replace the former annual retail, hospitality and leisure relief.

Category	Rateable value
Small business RHL	Less than £51,000
Standard RHL	£51,000 to £499,999
Small business (non-RHL)	Less than £51,000
Standard (non-RHL)	£51,000 to £499,999
High value properties (all types)	More than £500,000

See the full list of qualifying businesses for the RHL multiplier on the GOV.UK website.

Properties with rateable values (RVs) at or above £500,000 will pay a higher multiplier, designed to help fund the new, lower RHL multipliers and targeted support for the high street.

What is the rateable value?

Each non-domestic property has a rateable value which is normally set by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA).

The Valuation Office Agency website has a full list of all rateable values.

The rateable value of your property is shown on the front of your Business Rates bill. This broadly represents the yearly rent the property could have been let for on the open market on a particular date.

The VOA is required to maintain a local rating list for all properties in Derby and may alter the rateable value if the circumstances of the property change. The ratepayer (and certain others who have an interest in the property) can also appeal against the value shown in the list if they believe it is wrong.

A property's rateable value is an assessment of the annual rent the property would rent for if it were available to let on the open market at a fixed valuation date.

From 1 April 2017, the rateable values will be based on the valuation date of 1 April 2015.
From 1 April 2023, the rateable values will be based on the valuation date of 1 April 2021.
From 1 April 2026, the rateable values will be based on the valuation date of 1 April 2024.

If you think your rateable value is incorrect, you can view your property details on the GOV.UK website.

What is a revaluation?

The Valuation Office Agency regularly reassess and update the rateable values of all business properties usually every five years. This is called a revaluation. This is done to maintain fairness in the system by redistributing the total amount payable in business rates, reflecting changes in the property market. Revaluation does not raise extra revenue overall.

Revaluation 2023

The 2017 non-domestic rating list closed on 31 March 2023. From 1 April 2023, customers will only be able to make a check against the new 2023 rating list. Rateable values are the amount of rent a property could have been let for on a set valuation date. For the 2023 valuation, that date is 1 April 2021.

For more information, visit the GOV.UK website.

Revaluation 2026

The 2023 non-domestic rating list closed on 31 March 2026. From 1 April 2026, customers will only be able to make a check against the new 2026 rating list. Rateable values are the amount of rent a property could have been let for on a set valuation date. For the 2026 valuation, that date is 1 April 2024.

Information with your business rates bill

Information relating to the gross expenditure of the local authority:

Each financial year, the Government issues a set of explanatory notes which is sent with your bill: