APPEAL YOUR RATES
How to appeal your business rates
You appeal business rates by challenging the rateable value through the VOA's free Check and Challenge service: confirm the facts (Check), then submit evidence that comparable properties are valued lower (Challenge). A reduction lowers your bill, often backdated.
Business rates are charged on your property's rateable value, set by the Valuation Office Agency. If that value is too high, wrong floor area, wrong use, or simply out of line with similar properties nearby - you're overpaying every single year until it's corrected. The good news: you can challenge it yourself, for free.
See if your valuation looks too high, freeThe Check & Challenge process
- Check your rateable value. Sign in to the VOA's Find a Business Rates Valuation Service, find your property and confirm the facts the valuation is based on (floor areas, use, features). Correcting wrong facts is the 'Check' stage.
- Gather evidence. The strongest evidence is the rateable values of similar properties nearby. If comparable units are assessed lower than yours, that's the basis of a challenge.
- Submit a Challenge. If the rateable value is still wrong after the Check, submit a formal Challenge with your evidence and proposed value, within the time limits.
- Escalate if needed. If the VOA rejects your Challenge you can appeal to the Valuation Tribunal. Most cases are resolved before that.
Start with the evidence
Upload your bill and we'll cross-check your rateable value against the official VOA list and comparable properties near you, the exact evidence a challenge needs. If it looks over-valued, you'll see by how much.
Check my valuationQuestions
Can I appeal my business rates myself?
Yes. The VOA's Check and Challenge service is free to use and designed for ratepayers to use directly, you don't need a consultant, though the evidence stage is where most people get stuck.
What evidence do I need to appeal business rates?
Primarily the rateable values of comparable properties nearby, plus correct facts about your own property (floor area, use). If similar units are valued lower, you have a case.
Is there a deadline to appeal?
Challenges must be made within set time limits tied to the rating list and any change in circumstances. The sooner you check, the more you can usually backdate.
How much can I save by appealing?
It depends how over-valued your property is. Because rates are charged on the rateable value, a reduction flows straight through to a lower bill, often backdated.