How business rates are calculated
Your business rates bill is calculated by multiplying a Multiplier or Uniform Business Rate by your rateable value.
Central government sets the Multiplier. The Multiplier cannot rise by more than the rate of inflation unless it is a revaluation year.
In London there is also a business rate supplement to pay towards the Crossrail Project. It applies to premises with a rateable value in excess of £92,000. A multiplier of 0.02 is used to calculate the Business Rates Supplement in such instances.
2026-27 Multipliers
From 1st April 2026, the present two multipliers set each year by the Government, (i.e. small 49.9p and standard 55.5p business multipliers) will be expanded and there will instead, be five multipliers as follows:
- A small business multiplier of 43.2p for properties with a rateable value of less than £51,000.
- A standard multiplier of 48.0p for properties with a rateable value of £51,000 or more.
- A small business, retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) multiplier of 38.2p for retail hospitality and leisure businesses with a rateable value of less than £51,000.
- A standard retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) multiplier of 43.0p for retail hospitality and leisure businesses with a rateable value of £51,000 or more.
- A high value multiplier of 50.8p for businesses with a rateable value of £500,000 or more.
For the definition of a retail, hospitality and leisure business for the purposes of the above multipliers, see Properties that qualify for the RHL multipliers.
If your business is eligible for retail, hospitality and leisure relief of 40% on 31st March 2026, Business Rates for 2026/27 will generally be calculated using either the small retail, hospitality and leisure multiplier, the standard retail, hospitality and leisure multiplier or the high value multiplier, depending upon the rateable value of your premises on 1st April 2026.
When you get your bill, if you think the multiplier is incorrect you can tell us using the form below:
Report an incorrect multiplier
Multipliers from previous years
View the Multipliers for previous years.