How your bill is worked out
Your bill is worked out by multiplying the rateable value by the rating multiplier.
Rateable value
Your property will be given a rateable value, which is worked out by its rental value. The rateable value is set by the Valuation Office Agency. Use this service to find the ‘rateable value’ of a property.
If your enquiry is about the valuation given to your property, you need to contact the Valuation Office Agency:
Non-domestic Rates South East Valuation
Office Agency
St Annes House
2 St Annes Road
Eastbourne
East Sussex
BN21 3LG
ratingsoutheast@voa.gsi.gov.uk
Rating multiplier
The rating multiplier is the rate charged for every £1 of rateable value. The multiplier is set by central government and depending on inflation can change each year. There are 2 rating multipliers the standard multiplier and one for small businesses which have a rateable value under £51,000.
The multiplier for 2024/25 is 54.6 pence and the small business rates multiplier is 49.9 pence.
| Multiplier type | 2024/25 | 2023/24 |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | 54.6 | 51.2 |
| Small business | 49.9 | 49.9 |
| Multiplier type | 2022/23 | 2021/22 | 2020/21 | 2019/20 | 2018/19 | 2017/18 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | 51.2 | 51.2 | 51.2 | 50.4 | 49.3 | 47.9 |
| Small business | 49.9 | 49.9 | 49.9 | 49.1 | 48.0 | 46.6 |
Appealing
The business rates appeal process in England is known as check, challenge, appeal. The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) deal with checks and challenges through their online service. Further information to register for the service can be found on the GOV.UK website.
What are business rates
Non-domestic rates, or business rates, collected by local authorities are the way that those who occupy non-domestic property contribute towards the cost of local services.
Under the business rates retention arrangements introduced from 1st April 2013, authorities keep a proportion of the business rates paid locally.
This provides a direct financial incentive for authorities to work with local businesses to create a favourable local environment for growth since authorities will benefit from growth in business rates revenues. The money, together with revenue from Council Tax payers, revenue support grant provided by the government and certain other sums, is used to pay for the services provided by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council and other local authorities in your area.
Further information about the business rates system, including transitional and other reliefs, can be found on the GOV.UK website.