Estimate Your Business Rates: 2026/27 Step-by-Step Guide
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The 2026 Rating List took effect on 1 April 2026, bringing new rateable values and a reformed multiplier structure. Use the three steps below to estimate your liability — then run it through our Business Rates Calculator for a precise figure with all reliefs applied.
Step 1 Find Your Rateable Value
Your rateable value (RV) is an estimate of your property's annual open market rent, set by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA). Under the 2026 Rating List, all RVs are based on rental evidence as of 1 April 2024 — the Antecedent Valuation Date.
Search for your property on the VOA's online service. If you think the figure is wrong, you can challenge it through the Check, Challenge, Appeal process.
Step 2 Apply the Correct Multiplier
Multiply your rateable value by the appropriate pence-in-the-pound rate. The multiplier that applies depends on your location, rateable value band, and whether your property is a qualifying retail, hospitality, or leisure (RHL) property.
England (2026/27)
| Multiplier | Rate | Who it applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Small Business | 43.2p | Non-RHL, RV below £51,000 |
| Standard | 48.0p | Non-RHL, RV £51,000–£499,999 |
| Small RHL | 38.2p | Qualifying RHL, RV below £51,000 |
| Standard RHL | 43.0p | Qualifying RHL, RV £51,000–£499,999 |
| High-Value | 50.8p | All properties, RV £500,000 or above |
Wales (2026/27)
Wales uses a three-tier system from 1 April 2026:
| Multiplier | Rate | Who it applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Retail | 35.0p | Retail shops, RV below £51,000 |
| Standard | 50.2p | Most other properties |
| Higher | 51.5p | Properties with RV above £100,000 |
City of London (2026/27)
The City of London uses the same five England multipliers, plus a City premium of 2.9p (small-business categories) or 3.2p (standard and high-value categories) to fund additional local services.
| Multiplier | Rate |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 46.1p |
| Standard | 51.2p |
| Small RHL | 41.1p |
| Standard RHL | 46.2p |
| High-Value | 54.0p |
Quick example
A non-RHL business in England with a rateable value of £20,000:
£20,000 × 0.432 = £8,640 gross annual liability
Step 3 Deduct Applicable Reliefs
Several relief schemes can significantly reduce the gross figure:
- Small Business Rate Relief (SBRR): 100% relief for properties with RV of £12,000 or less; tapers to 0% at £15,000. Your business must use only one property.
- RHL multipliers: Qualifying retail, hospitality, and leisure properties automatically use the lower RHL multiplier — no separate application needed.
- Transitional Relief: Caps bill increases at 130% of the prior year's charge for 2026/27 to phase in the impact of the revaluation.
- Supporting Small Business Relief: For businesses losing SBRR or Rural Rate Relief, increases are capped at the higher of £800 or the transitional relief cap.
- Charitable Rate Relief: Up to 80% relief for charities and community amateur sports clubs using the property for charitable purposes.
- Rural Rate Relief: Up to 100% for qualifying sole businesses (shops, pubs, post offices, petrol stations) in rural areas with a population below 3,000.