How your bill is calculated

Rateable value

Apart from properties that are exempt from business rates, each non-domestic property has a rateable value which is set by the valuation officers of the HMRC Valuation Office (VO). They draw up and maintain a full list of all rateable values. These are available on their website.

The rateable value broadly represents the yearly rent the property could have been let for on the open market on a particular date.

If you have any queries regarding your rateable value or you wish to appeal against the value placed on your property, you should contact the Valuation Office direct.

Remember, you must pay the instalments shown on your bill until any appeal has been decided and a revised bill issued. Any overpayment will be refunded to you.

Revaluation 2026

The Valuation Office has set new rateable values for all business properties from 1 April 2026. This is the yearly rent that could have been fetched on 1 April 2024. This was during the pandemic and the rent information reflects this.

You can find more information by visiting the Business Rates Revaluation page on the GOV.UK website.

National Non-Domestic Rating Multiplier

The government confirmed in the autumn 2025 statement that from 1 April 2026 there will be five multipliers. The multipliers for 2026 and 2027 are:

• small business retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) multiplier: 38.2p (rateable value under £51,000)
• small business multiplier: 43.2p (rateable value under £51,000)
• standard RHL multiplier: 43p (rateable value £51,000 to £499,999)
• standard multiplier: 48p (rateable value £51,000 to £499,999)
• high value multiplier: 50.8p (rateable value £500,000 or over)

There is no lower multiplier for properties valued at £500,000 and above. 

The multipliers are set by central government and normally change every year in line with inflation. 

The local authority works out the business rates bill by multiplying the rateable value of the property by the appropriate multiplier.

1. the standard multiplier for 2025 to 2026 is 55.5p
2. the small business multiplier for 2025 to 2026 is 49.9p

The multiplier is set by central government and normally changes every year in line with inflation. 

Transitional Relief and Supporting Small Business Schemes

Transitional Relief

Transitional relief limits how much your bill can change each year as a result of business rates revaluation. The last revaluation came into effect on 1 April 2026.

This means changes to your bill are phased in gradually, if you are eligible.

You may get transitional relief towards your 2026 to 2027 bill if your bill goes up by more than a certain amount. Limits continue to apply to yearly increases until the full amount payable is due (rateable value times the appropriate multiplier).

Any transition is automatically calculated and will be shown on your bill.

You can find further information about the scheme by visiting the Business Rates Relief page on the GOV.UK website.

Supporting Small Business Relief

This relief will help eligible ratepayers who as a result of the business rates revaluation are losing some or all of their Small Business Rate Relief (SBRR) or Rural Rate Relief (RRR) and are facing large increases in their bills. Increases will be capped at £600 per year from April 2023. This relief caps any increase to a maximum of £600 for the 2023 to 2024 financial year, then £1,200 for the 2024 to 2025 financial year and then finally £1,800 for the 2025 to 2026 financial year. A new revaluation is due for the following year.

To be eligible for the relief under the Subsidy Control Act you must not have exceeded the Minimal Financial Assistance limit of £315,000 over a 3 year period. Further guidance can be found in the Supporting Small Business Relief guidance on the GOV.UK website.

Charities and Community Amateur Sport Clubs are already entitled to mandatory 80% relief. As such they are not eligible for 2023 Supporting Small Business Relief.

Relief is automatically calculated by Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council and will be shown on your bill.

Find further information about the scheme on the Business Rates Relief page on the GOV.UK website.