Business Rates Revaluation Advice for Accountants and Property Professionals

Direct answer: accountants and property professionals should treat a business rates revaluation as both a valuation and cash-flow review. Compare the new rateable value and property facts with the client's lease, occupation and plans, then separate VOA valuation questions from council billing, relief and liability issues.

Where professional reviews add value

A change in rateable value does not translate directly into the same percentage change in the bill because multipliers, transitional arrangements and reliefs can affect liability. The first task is to reconcile the property record and bill, identify material changes and flag issues requiring specialist rating or legal advice.

Practical example

An accountant preparing forecasts sees a large increase for a client's office. The VOA record also includes a floor that the client surrendered. Before treating the entire increase as a revaluation effect, the adviser gathers the lease variation, plans, bills and rating details and refers the factual discrepancy for review.

Documents and evidence checklist

• Current and previous business rates bills.

• Current and previous rating-list entries.

• VOA valuation details and floor areas.

• Lease, rent review and occupation documents.

• Plans and details of physical alterations.

• Relief decisions and transitional calculations.

• A client timeline covering acquisitions, disposals and empty periods.

What to do next

Build a repeatable review checklist for every property-owning or occupying client. Record the VOA reference and council account separately, compare dates and highlight unexplained changes. Avoid advising that a formal challenge is warranted until the valuation evidence and potential financial effect have been assessed.

Official sources

GOV.UK: Find a business rates valuation

GOV.UK: Introduction to business rates

Get case-specific help

Accountants and property professionals can send us the rating entry, latest bill, lease and a summary of the suspected issue. We can help identify whether the matter concerns valuation, liability, relief or the structure of the assessment.

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Article information

Written by Steve Adams, Business Rate Advisors Ltd. Reviewed by Mark Allen. Updated 18 August 2026. This article provides general information for businesses in England and Wales. Every case depends on its own facts, dates and evidence.

2026 Rating List: What Businesses Need to Check Now

Direct answer: businesses should check the 2026 rating-list entry against the property actually occupied, not only compare the new rateable value with the previous figure. Property description, floor area, use, alterations, splits, mergers and occupation facts can all affect whether further investigation is justified.

Separate the valuation from the bill

The VOA maintains the rating list and rateable value. The council calculates and collects the bill, applies relevant reliefs and records liability. A correct rateable value can still produce an incorrect bill, while a correctly calculated bill may be based on a property entry that needs review.

Practical example

A retailer sees a higher 2026 rateable value but also notices that a demolished rear store remains included in the property description. The retailer gathers dated plans, photographs, contractor records and the prior valuation before assessing whether a factual correction or valuation challenge is appropriate.

Documents and evidence checklist

• 2026 and previous rating-list entries.

• Latest bill and projected liability calculation.

• VOA valuation details, floor areas and property description.

• Lease, rent review and relevant rental evidence.

• Plans, photographs and alteration records.

• Details of changes in occupier, use, split or merger.

• Current relief decisions and council correspondence.

What to do next

Create a property-by-property comparison and record every discrepancy. Check the financial effect before starting formal action. Use relevant evidence rather than assuming that any increase is wrong. Businesses with multiple sites should apply the same review method consistently across the portfolio.

Official sources

GOV.UK: Find a business rates valuation

Valuation Office Agency

Get case-specific help

Send us the property address, VOA reference, current and previous values, latest bill and any plans showing changes. We can provide an initial review of the valuation, property facts and likely next step.

Request a business rates valuation review

Article information

Written by Steve Adams, Business Rate Advisors Ltd. Reviewed by Mark Allen. Updated 18 August 2026. This article provides general information for businesses in England and Wales. Every case depends on its own facts, dates and evidence.

Incorrect Rateable Value: When to Use VOA Check and Challenge

Direct answer: use VOA Check and Challenge when reliable property or valuation evidence indicates that the rating-list entry may be wrong. A high business rates bill alone is not evidence of an incorrect rateable value. First confirm whether the issue concerns the VOA valuation or the council's calculation, liability or relief decision.

Common reasons for investigating a valuation

Relevant issues can include an incorrect floor area, wrong property description, unsuitable valuation approach, missed physical changes, an incorrect effective date or comparable evidence that has not been properly reflected. The strength of the case depends on the statutory valuation framework and evidence available.

Practical example

An occupier compares the VOA details with a measured plan and finds that inaccessible basement space has been recorded as usable accommodation. The occupier gathers the lease, photographs, measurements and professional plans. Those facts can be checked before rental or comparable valuation evidence is considered.

Documents and evidence checklist

• VOA property reference and full valuation details.

• Current and previous rating-list entries.

• Latest business rates bill.

• Complete lease and rent-review documents.

• Accurate measurements, plans and dated photographs.

• Details and dates of alterations or access restrictions.

• Relevant rental and comparable evidence with explanations.

What to do next

Check the facts first, assess the financial effect and identify the exact correction requested. Keep evidence consistent across Check and Challenge stages. A challenge can result in no change and, depending on the evidence, a valuation is not guaranteed to decrease.

Official sources

VOA Check and Challenge guidance

GOV.UK: Find a business rates valuation

Get case-specific help

Send us the VOA valuation, bill, lease, plans and a short explanation of the suspected error. We can assess whether the issue is factual, valuation-related or actually belongs with the council.

Get help from business rates appeal specialists

Article information

Written by Steve Adams, Business Rate Advisors Ltd. Reviewed by Mark Allen. Updated 18 August 2026. This article provides general information for businesses in England and Wales. Every case depends on its own facts, dates and evidence.