Business rates explained

What are business rates?

Business rates are a local tax charged on most non-domestic properties​. It is also known as National Non-Domestic Rates (NNDR)​. 

Business rates are based on the property's rateable value and is set by the Valuation Office Agency. The council has no say in how your rateable value is calculated. The time between revaluations has been reduced to 3 years

Find a business rates valuation
View your new rateable value and request changes if you think details are wrong

Find out how business rates are calculated
Information on GOV.UK

Where the money goes

Business rates contribute to our overall budget, along with council tax, other fees, rents and licences. It helps fund the services we provide as a council and other local services such as Hampshire County County and Hampshire Fire Authority.

The council keeps about half of the business rates collected and the rest goes to central government for reallocation to local authorities through various grants.

Who pays business rates

Business rates are charged on most non-domestic properties such as:

• shops
• offices
• pubs
• warehouses
• factories
• beach huts

You will probably have to pay business rates if you use a building or part of a building for non-domestic purposes, even if this is not for a busines.