How Do You Appeal Business Rates Valuations?

It is crucial to appeal business rates valuation for smooth business flow. Business rates valuation requires a complete understanding to achieve proper control over property expenses. The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) conducts reviews of rateable values for commercial properties once or twice during a span of every few years to maintain alignment with modern property market values. Here you will find detailed instructions to appeal business rates valuation for achieving business rates that are correct.

 

Steps to Appeal Business Rate Valuations

You can challenge a high rateable value for your business property or property details errors through specific administrative procedures that operate through the Valuation Office Agency (VOA). Business property rate valuation management in England and Wales occurs through the operations of the Valuation Office Agency (VOA), which follows check, challenge, and appeal phases.

The following are some steps that you can follow to appeal business rates valuation:

Step 1: Set Up a Business Rates Valuation Account

Assistance begins with creating a Business Rates Valuation Account.

A business rates valuation account requires registration or sign-in through the Government Gateway in order to proceed. During registration, you must create your first Government Gateway account when you lack this security feature. Moreover, setting up an agent (for instance, a surveyor) becomes possible after creating your business rates valuation account.

Step 2: Add Your Property to Your Account

The next step requires you to add your property under your account access.

Signing into your account should be followed by adding your property to it. You can use the account to notify alterations in property details or object to your rateable value.

A valid proof of property connection that may include lease agreements or utility bills is required to continue.

Step 3: Check and Update Property Details

Property owners must examine existing property information during Step 3, followed by an update of any inaccurate data to appeal business rates valuation. The first step requires the submission of a “Check” case to the system. The VOA property details need confirmation through this process.

You should present evidence such as floor plans and photos whenever you notice wrong floor size measurements or property usage classifications.

More importantly, when the VOA approves your suggested property modifications, they will perform detailed updates and potentially review your rateable value.

Step 4: Challenge the Rateable Value

You can progress to the “Challenge” phase if you maintain your view about the incorrect assessment of your rateable value.

In this step, you’ll need to

• State the amount that represents your view of the proper rateable value.
• The evidence to justify your claim should comprise rental values from comparable properties in addition to current market conditions.
• Submission of a challenge requires the finalisation of the check process.

Step 5: Appeal the VOA’s Decision

The process of rateable value appeal continues to the independent Valuation Tribunal following an unfavourable result in the challenge stage with the VOA.

The final authority will evaluate your appeal to determine if your rateable value deserves an adjustment.

What Can You Do If You Disagree with the VOA’s Decision?

Homeowners can continue their appeal process after dissatisfied outcomes from their challenges to the Valuation Office Agency’s (VOA) decisions. The Valuation Tribunal serves as the independent body that handles this last stage to review disputes in a non-biased and impartial manner.

Further, two circumstances exist under which you can submit an appeal to the Valuation Tribunal.

1. After the challenge stage ends, you can file an appeal at the VOA within 4 months from the date of your received decision.
2. By letting 18 months pass without a VOA response, you automatically secure the opportunity to appeal.

The case acceptance depends on taking immediate action within established deadlines.

• Moreover, the Valuation Tribunal has authority to handle appeals about these types of cases:
• The rateable value or any other part of your property’s entry in the rating list.
• The completion notice from your local council specifies the start date of the business rates application for new or redeveloped properties.
• When dealing with transitional relief, the VOA issues transitional certificates to minimise the effects of major rateable value fluctuations over different rating periods.

However, you must submit all important data and proof to the Valuation Tribunal during the appeal process. You must provide as evidence the relevant materials, such as documents and photos and comparable valuations. Upon tribunal request, the VOA can provide copies of your initial challenge together with its supporting documentation.

Interestingly, following this process will boost your chances of obtaining a reasonable assessment of your business rates.

What Happens During a Business Rates Revaluation?

Revaluation serves as the process that influences the quantity of business rates you must pay. The process of checking business rates valuations requires understanding how to confront the Valuation Office Agency and change your rateable value as well as update property information and appeal their evaluation decisions.

A revaluation follows when the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) modifies business property rateable values according to adjustments in market property values. The process ensures business rates remain fair because they are established from up-to-date rental values.

The new business rate system activated on 1 April 2023 throughout England and Wales drew its information from rental amounts established on 1 April 2021. Onvirates bases its current payment calculations on property values at the time of assessment.

These changes occur during revaluation:

• Every business property receives its own updated rateable value during this process.
• Business rate calculation depends on the revision of multipliers—standard and small business values.

Additionally, a variation in your rateable value does not necessarily lead to modifications in your business rates bill. The final bill amount may experience minimal shifts but will most likely remain stable based on government-established adjustments or reliefs.

 

Conclusion

How Do You Appeal Business Rates Valuations? To sum up, the business rates valuation appeals system becomes simpler when you follow the Check Challenge Appeal process in order to ensure a proper assessment of your property values. Further, you should work with a rating appeal specialist professional agent to handle your needs if the process seems challenging.

Disclaimer: All the information provided in this article on appeal business rates valuation, including all the texts and graphics, is general in nature. It does not intend to disregard any of the professional advice.