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Business rates tax advisory
Business rates liabilities have historically been set every five years by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) through revaluations. The liability is a percentage of the attributed rateable value (RV), which reflects the VOA’s opinion of the rental value for the property occupied at a set valuation date.
Our business rates specialists work with the VOA and local billing authorities to shape and negotiate business rates assessments, ensuring liabilities are minimised. We advise businesses on how to manage existing liabilities and budget for future liabilities. We support businesses through the revaluation period and throughout a property lifecycle so they can confidently anticipate costs.
Our business rates services
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Reviewing and challenging the Rateable Value
Check, challenge, appeal: We can review your current business rates liabilities and provide analysis on where best to challenge value both for the current revaluation and forthcoming revaluations
Disturbance: If you are undertaking work on the property or neighbouring work affects the quiet enjoyment of commercial premises, it may be possible to apply for relief or raise a challenge on the grounds of a material change in circumstance (MCC). Our experts assess the disturbance and advise accordingly
Rightsizing property portfolios through relocations, disposals and acquisitions: Many commercial real estate occupiers are revisiting their occupied strategy to accommodate growth, streamlining and hybrid working. Our experts can ensure your business rates liabilities are kept to a minimum
Vacancy: We can apply for empty rates relief and advise on mitigating future business rates if your property falls vacant before the lease expires, at the end of a tenancy or ahead of and during an intended re-development
Deletion: We can advise on your entitlement to an assessment reduction to £0 or removal from local or central rating lists if the property cannot be beneficially or actually occupied
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Challenging the service of legal notices
Completion notice challenges: Our experts will check that the notice has been served correctly and challenge it if appropriate
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Assistance with budgeting
Advice and forecasting: We provide regular advice on budgeting for business rates, real-time forecasting and data on business rates savings over a revaluation period. We can provide liability reports both in line with the rate year and clients’ financial years
Rates audit: We can review your portfolio to identify outstanding credits due to you. This involves a review of current and historic portfolios to establish they have been correctly charged and that correct amendments to current and historical rating lists
Identification of reliefs and refunds: We can review your business rates liabilities to ensure you are benefitting from any available reliefs
Download our Business Rates Guide
How we support landlords and occupiers with their commercial properties.
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Frequently asked questions about business rates tax advisory
How can a business rates adviser help reduce my business rates liability?
A specialist business rates adviser can review current business rates assessments and identify opportunities to challenge values. They can manage the end-to-end process, challenging assessments on your behalf. They are well trained in all the property rental valuation methods the VOA uses to set rateable values. They can also advise on appropriate relief entitlements and help apply for these.
How is my business rates liability calculated?
The liability is calculated by multiplying the rateable value by the uniform business rate (UBR) multiplier.
Do I qualify for small business rates relief?
You qualify for small business rates relief if your rateable value is less than £15,000.
I am relocating to another commercial property and am looking to improve the new occupied space. How can I ensure my business rates are kept to a minimum?
Working with a business rates adviser before and during a relocation to challenge the rateable value could reduce business rates liabilities.
Do I qualify for retail, hospitality and leisure relief?
Retail, hospitality and leisure relief replaced the retail discount on 1 April 2022. You can qualify for retail, hospitality and leisure relief if your business is mainly used as a shop, restaurant, café, bar, pub, cinema, music venue or hospitality or leisure business (for example, a gym, spa or hotel).