Valuation Office Agency
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Some businesses in England are eligible for a reduction in their business rates bill. This is called business rates relief.
The rules for business rates relief are different if your property is in Scotland, your property is in Wales or your property is in Northern Ireland.
Find out who to contact to get help with business rates relief.
This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).
When you can get business rates relief
You may be eligible for business rates relief if your business is:
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a retail, hospitality and leisure property - for example, a shop, restaurant, entertainment venue or hotel
You may also be eligible for business rates relief if:
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you own a property and its empty, partly empty or being refurbished
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your rates change by more than a certain amount at revaluation
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youll get less small business or rural rate relief after 1 April 2023
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you are in financial difficulty
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your property is a heat network
Local councils can also choose to offer business rates relief to businesses that benefit the local community or economy. Contact your local council to find out if this is available in your area and check if youre eligible.
When you do not have to pay business rates
Some properties are exempt from business rates.
You may not have to pay business rates on:
- agricultural land and buildings, including fish farms
- buildings used for the training or welfare of disabled people
- buildings registered for public religious worship or church halls
Find out more about exempt properties.
If youre not sure what business rates relief youre eligible for
Local councils make decisions on whether businesses are eligible for relief, send business rates bills and collect payments.
Contact your local council to find out what types of relief you can get and how to apply.
If your premises are affected by local disruption
You may get a temporary reduction in your business rates if your premises are affected by severe local disruption (like flooding, or nearby building work or roadworks).
Tell the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) if you think a local disruption has affected the value of your property. Use your business rates valuation account to tell them.
The VOA will decide if you can get a temporary reduction in your business rates.