Your 2026 rateable value will be published in December 2025

and you can formally challenge it from April 2026.

To find out now if it is wrong and how it will affect your bills from April 2026

free of charge and without obligation

Click ‘2026 Revaluation Help’ above and fill in the form.

This website is supported by Chartered Surveyors from JMA Chartered Surveyors An RICS Regulated Firm

Want to know more about business rates from an informed and impartial source? Read On

Are you prepared for 2026 ?

From 1st April 2026 onwards, your rates bills will be based on your 2026 rateable value, and any reduction must be sought via the Check, Challenge, Appeal (CCA) procedure.

To secure a reduction will require the ratepayer or their Agent to prove that the rental value of their property, on statutory terms, at 1st April 2024 is less than their 2026 rateable value by providing documentary evidence and detailed argument.

While Check, Challenge, Appeal (CCA) is portrayed as a 3 stage process, but there are 3 “hidden” stages that can trap the unwary making it (RCCRRA). See below.

Other reforms are also coming into force from 1st April 2026.

  • Duty To Notify: Phased in from late 2026, this is to require ratepayers to notify the Valuation Office Agency of any improvements made to the property or face fines and other penalties.

  • 2026 rateable values over £500,000 are to be charged a levy of up to 20% on top of the normal business rate charges to fund lower charges for Retail and Hospitality businesses.

How we have helped other businesses

JMA Chartered Surveyors has been helping businesses large and small keep their business rates bills down since 1991.

Since the introduction of Check, Challenge, Appeal in 2017, JMA is one of the few rating firms still able to bring and win rating appeals at Valuation Tribunal and Lands Chamber, where they have had a 90%+ success rate.

That high success rate at Appeal means that they are in a strong negotiating position when it comes to Challenge and have secured some reductions for clients as high as 70%.

All their work is overseen and managed by Co Founder and Principal Surveyor, Andrew Bacon Bsc(Hons) MRICS APAEWE, who has personally dealt with over 6000 business rates appeals.

Find out more at www.jmacs.co.uk or contact them using the form below.

How we can help your Business

  • JMA is one of the few RICS Regulated firms that has secured rateable value reductions for clients on the 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010, and 2023 rating lists.

  • We can forecast your businesses rates for 2026, 2027 and 2028 to help you plan and budget.

  • We can offer specialist advice to help minimise your rates liability and reduce the risk of you facing unexpected increases.

  • Our surveyors have been winning rating appeals at Tribunal since the early 1990’s and understand how to navigate the procedures to be successful on appeal.

  • The law that affects business rates bills is complex and is often interpreted incorrectly by Councils leading to overcharging. We can prove what you should pay and recover overpayments.

Business Rates Fundamentals

  • What are Business Rates?

    Business rates are a non-domestic tax that is levied on businesses that occupy commercial space.

    Fundamentally, this is the equivalent of council tax for businesses.

    A proportion of the money goes to the local council and a portion goes to the Government.

  • How are Business Rates Calculated?

    Business Rates are calculated through first determining a Rateable Value (RV)

    These are a hypothetical value of what the property would rent for at a certain date, vacant and to let.

    Then the RV is multiplied by Uniform Business Rates (UBR) to calculate the total business rates liability.

  • What is a Unique Business Rates Multiplier (UBR)?

    The UBR is reviewed annually and the multiplier and is multiplied against the RV to determine the business rates liability.

    These can be increased by inflation.

    Currently there are two multiplier, Standard (£51,000+) and Small (Below £51,000)

  • What is Check, Challenge, Appeal (CCA) ?

    CCA is the the method used to change the Rateable Value (RV) and involves three main steps:

    1. Check

    2. Challenge

    3. Appeal

    A fuller explanation is provided below.

  • What are Reliefs ?

    Business Rates Reliefs are given to certain classes of businesses depending on certain characteristics .

    These reliefs include Retail Hospitality Relief (RHL), Small Business Rates Relief (SBRR), Charitable Relief and Mandatory.

    Local councils can also provide discretionary relief where they deem appropriate.

  • How to Appeal your Business Rates?

    In order to appeal your business rates you will need to prove to the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) that the rateable value is unreasonable.

    This is done through providing rental evidence at or around the AVD that proves the Rateable Value is excessive. This requires a solid case and evidence from the start that few have, and fewer know how to utilise.

Register, Check, Challenge, Rebuttal, Reply, Appeal

(RCCRRA)

  • Registration

    To use the CCA system you first have to register on to HMRC Gateway. This has been poorly implemented and blocks man ratepayers.

    JMA staff know how to help you register with the least fuss.

  • Check

    This is where you have to verify and correct any factual errors the VOA holds regarding your property and often requires an understanding of RICS measuring codes and Rating Law.

    We understand the law and can prepare the necessary documentation.

  • Challenge

    Once you have completed Check, you are then permitted to submit a Challenge. This is where you provide your detailed reasons and evidence why you are entitled to a reduction.

    JMA staff know what level of evidence your need to secure a reduction.

  • Rebuttal

    If the VOA disagrees with your Challenge they will usually provide evidence and argument to rebut it and if you have submitted a poor Challenge they may simply refuse to consider it.

    JMA challenges are rarely if ever rejected

  • Reply

    Where the VOA provides a Rebuttal, you get to Reply where you get to address and challenge their evidence and provide new evidence that has come into your possession. Challenges are won or lost in Reply

    JMA wins many challenges at Reply.

  • Appeal

    If the VOA provides a Challenge decision you will have a right to appeal it based on the evidence exchanged prior. This involves standing up before panel and arguing your case .

    JMA wins a high percentage of their appeals

Contact JMA

Where you are interested in instructing JMA Chartered Surveyors to help with your Business Rates, please fill in the form or you can always email admin@jmacs.co.uk or call 0207 663 5668