Explanatory notes for non-domestic ratepayers

The local authority works out the business rates bill for a property by multiplying the rateable value of the property by the appropriate non-domestic multiplier.

There are two multipliers:                                             

• the national non-domestic rating multiplier
• the small business non-domestic rating multiplier

Ratepayers who occupy a property with a rateable value less than £50,999 will have their bills calculated using the lower small business non-domestic rating multiplier, rather than the national non-domestic rating multiplier.

The government sets the multipliers for each financial year, except in the City of London where special arrangements apply.

Both multipliers for a financial year are based on the previous year's multiplier adjusted to reflect the Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation figure for the September prior to the billing year, unless a lower multiplier is set by the government.

The current multipliers are shown on the front of your bill.