Domesday Live

Business rates: how the rate has changed

Business. Business rates are charged on the rental value of business premises. The charge is the rateable value multiplied by the multiplier, which is set by the government and shown here as pence in the pound. These are the English multipliers. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland set their own.

Worth knowing

• The uniform business rate began in 1990. The multiplier normally rises with inflation each April and drops at a revaluation, which resets rateable values so that the total bill stays about the same.
• A second, lower multiplier for small businesses started in 2005.
• In April 2026 England moved to five multipliers. Retail, hospitality and leisure premises under £500,000 get lower multipliers, paid for by a higher multiplier on premises of £500,000 or more. A temporary 40% relief for these firms ended in March 2026.
• Coming up: a 20% cut in business rates for pubs, clubs and live music venues from April 2027, announced on 23 July 2026.