How to Calculate Business Rates

Your Business Rates bill is worked out by multiplying your rateable value by the multiplier or 'poundage' which the government sets from 1 April each year for the whole of England. 

From 1st April 2005 there are two multipliers; the standard non-domestic rating multiplier and the small business non-domestic rating multiplier. The former is higher to pay for small business rate relief. The Government sets the multipliers for each financial year for the whole of England. The Government normally changes both multipliers every year in line with inflation. By law, the multipliers cannot go up by more than the rate of inflation apart from some minor adjustments to counteract losses from appeals and, in relation to the standard multiplier, to pay for small business rate relief. In the year of a revaluation it is set at a level which will keep the total amount raised in rates after the revaluation the same as before, plus inflation for that year.

The amount that you pay is calculated by multiplying the rateable value of the property by the relevant multiplier shown above. All occupied property with a rateable value of less than £51,000 is charged the small business multiplier.

This amount could be reduced or increased if subject to transition (please see below).

The multipliers for the financial year 2017/18 are as follows:

Small business multiplier 46.6p in £.

Non domestic rating multiplier 47.9p in £. 

The multipliers for the financial year 2018/19 are as follows:

Small business multiplier 48.0p in £.

Non domestic rating multiplier 49.3p in £.

The multipliers for the financial year 2019/20 are as follows:

Small business multiplier 49.1p in £.

Non domestic rating multiplier 50.4p in £.

Transitional Arrangement

Transitional arrangements help to phase in the effects of changes to rateable values between the revaluations by limiting the amount by which a bill may rise following each valuation. To help pay for the limits on increases there are also limits on reductions in bills.

Limits are applied to the yearly increases and decreases until the full amount becomes due.

The arrangements only apply to the value of a property at the time of revaluation. If there are changes to the property during the valuation period, transitional arrangements will not normally apply to the changes.

Further details can be obtained by contacting the Revenues Section by emailing businessrates@hartlepool.gov.uk.