What are business rates?
Business rates are the tax charged on most non-domestic property in England and Wales, such as shops, offices, pubs, warehouses and factories. The local council sends the bill each February or March for the coming tax year. It is the property's rateable value, set by the Valuation Office, multiplied by the council's multiplier, less any relief.
What to know
- The rateable value is the property's estimated open-market rent on a set date; the most recent revaluation took effect on 1 April 2026, based on rents at 1 April 2024.
- Relief schemes such as small business rate relief can reduce the bill; apply to the council.
- A home-based business usually pays no business rates if only a small part of the home is used for work.
- Scotland and Northern Ireland run their own systems.
Sources: GOV.UK, "Business rates". Checked 1 October 2026.
Business rates and RewardsPilot
Business rates paid through RewardsPilot earn 4 RewardsPilot points per £1 of net spend.
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PAYE · VAT · National Insurance · UTR number · Corporation Tax · VAT registration number · VAT return · VAT invoice · Avios
Official facts are quoted from GOV.UK and can change. This is general information, not tax or legal advice. Programme facts come from the published RewardsPilot rate and the Rewards Programme Rules.