Our Guide to Business Rates.

National Non Domestic Rates (Business Rates)

National Non Domestic Rates (NNDR), often called Business Rates, was introduced on 1st April 1990. Business Rates is a form of taxation levied on the occupier of commercial premises. It is collected by the local authority on behalf of the government.

Business Rates are payable on every property that has an entry in the Rating List. The Rating List is compiled every five years by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA). It gives details of every commercial property in England and Wales. There is a similar document for properties in Scotland called the Valuation Roll, which is compiled by the Assessors Office. The entry includes the address, the description and the Rateable Value (RV) of the property. The VOA or Assessors Office has a duty to maintain an accurate list and will make alterations to the list - new entries, deletions, changes to the Rateable Value - whenever necessary.