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We'll manage your business rates liabilities on your behalf.

Navigating Business Rates Valuations and Appeals

Due to Business Rates being based on a subjective evaluation, they are open to interpretation and challenge. Determining an appropriate value requires expert training and thorough understanding of case law to navigate this.

Expert Business Rates Auditing

At RCK we audit valuations received to ensure that they are in line with local tax legislation and industry best practices. RCK can conduct a forensic evaluation of past payment records to determine if any rates have been overpaid and to ensure that any overpayments are refunded.

Mitigation of Empty Rates

Having an empty property can be frustrating and it negatively affects your bottom line. This is without even considering the extra burden of paying business rates.

RCK is dedicated to helping you identify areas you can save on by assessing your property's eligibility for exemptions, business rates relief, or temporary alternative uses.

Our team's expertise in the domain enables us to devise the most appropriate strategy to minimise your liabilities. Staying abreast with existing and changing legislation also helps us identify areas that can benefit our clients while remaining compliant.

Whether your an owner, developer, or occupier of an empty property, we'll provide appropriate guidance on applicable exemptions or reliefs and ongoing support.

The Multipliers

Two multipliers are involved in calculating business rates: the small business multiplier and the standard multiplier. The multipliers apply to the whole of England with some exemptions and are set each financial year by the legislation. There are also additions to your multiplier if your property is located within Greater London and the City of London.

Changes in the multipliers account for changes in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the September before the billing year.

Local authorities offer various business rate reliefs, such as small business rate relief, charitable relief, hardship relief, transitional relief, rural rate relief, empty property relief, and retail, hospitality, and leisure relief.

What Can Change Your Business Rates?

Generally, factors affecting the rateable value of your property and eligibility for business rates relief or exemptions affect how much you pay in business rates.

Some of the reasons include:

Creating products, services, or processes

Building works to both your property and the surrounding properties

Changes like renovations and extensions

Property becoming empty

Change in circumstances making you eligible for relief

Such nuances in calculating business rates can make it difficult to navigate the tax landscape effectively, which is why we advise enlisting a specialist.

Why Choose RCK for Your Business Rates?

Our Experience

We advise working with an experienced team to help you investigate and apply for relief whilst remaining compliant.

When working with RCK, you tap into our years of experience in identifying areas of refunds and appeals.

We'll help you provide and present evidence at the Valuation Tribunal and Upper Tribunal when you have an appeal.

You can trust us to negotiate with the relevant local authority when seeking a refund.

Our Expertise

The RCK team is made up of property specialists and surveyors, who can help you navigate the tax landscape.

Client-Centric Approach

At RCK, you and your business matter to us. Our team prides itself on providing optimal solutions for our clients.

We are a dynamic team with expertise in property valuation, accounting, property law, and tax laws. We leverage all available resources to help you manage your business rates.

We enjoy the challenge of helping each client minimise business rates liabilities to get the most benefit from working with us.

FAQs

How are Business Rates Calculated?

In England, business rates are calculated by multiplying the rateable value by either the small business non-domestic rating multiplier or the standard non-domestic rating multiplier. Your rateable value determines which multiplier applies to your business.

You then deduct any applicable business rate relief to get your final business rates bill. You would, however, calculate England's business rates differently from Scotland and Northern Ireland.

How Does the Valuation Office Agency Set the Rateable Value?

The VOA, an agency of HMRC, sets the rateable value of your property according to rental values on the open market as at a particular date. RCK can help you challenge the rateable value if we establish it's wrong.

When Do I Pay Business Rates?

You can pay business rates bills on a 10-monthly cycle or 12 monthly instalments.

Does My Business Qualify for Business Rates Relief or Exemption?

The nature of your business determines your eligibility. You may qualify for small if it's a small business. Cinemas, cafes, gyms, charities, and local newspapers may qualify for relief. You could also qualify for hardship relief when facing financial difficulties.

Your property may fall under agricultural land like fish farms, and buildings registered for public religious worship or for the welfare of disabled people. Such properties are exempted from paying business rates.

Our team at RCK can help you determine your eligibility for relief.

When Can My Business Rates Change?

Your business rates can change if the property's occupancy status changes. Rates can also change if the business property undergoes repairs, renovations, or extensions that alter its value, usage, size, and layout.

Changes to the surrounding area, such as roadwork, new developments, removal or addition of amenities, increased noise, or pollution affecting the property's market value, could also change your business rates.

Working with RCK will help you navigate such changes.

Picture of Brandley Westlake head of business rates and surveyor

Bradley Westlake - Head of Business Rates

Bradley Westlake leads our dynamic business rates team. His over eleven years of experience in rating give him extensive knowledge of Rating legislation in various UK markets, specialising in London, Manchester, and Bristol.

His years in the public and private sector enable him to steer the team and provide valuable insight to clients with various property types. Bradley also has vast experience working with local authorities, which comes in handy when resolving business rates matters like appeals and rebates.

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Contact Us

We would be happy to help you, please get in touch with any queries by using our contact form. We’ll get back to you within 24 hours.

Call us to get in touch

020 3318 0438

Find us

7th Floor, Forum House,
15-18 Lime St, London EC3M 7AN

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