General information (incl. valuation, arrears, refunds)
We are responsible for collection of Business Rates. The money is then paid into a national account ('central pool'). We collect from around 4,000 companies a year, totalling around £83 million.How is the money spent?
The money is sent to all local Councils according to how many people live in the borough (using the number of Council Tax payers).
This together with our income from Council Tax, and the Central Government Revenue Support Grant, is the main way we finance the services we provide.
How are Business Rates decided?
The Valuation Office Agency (part of the Inland Revenue) sets each non-domestic property a rateable value. They provide this list on their website at www.voa.gov.uk. Copies of this list are also available to view at Solihull Connect or from the Coventry Valuation Office (5th floor Sherbourne House, 1 Manor House Drive, Coventry, CV1 2TG, Tel. 0121 410 3700)
What is the rateable value?
The rateable value broadly represents the yearly rent of the property at a particular date in time. For the valuations that came into affect in 2005, this date was 1 April 2003.
The rateable value of your property will be shown on the front of your bill.
The valuation officer has to maintain the rating list and may alter the value if he or she believes the circumstances of the property have changed.
How are the Business Rates calculated?
The rateable value of the property is multiplied by the 'National Non-Domestic Rating Multiplier'. This multiplier is set by Government and is changed every year to move in line with inflation.
By law, the multiplier cannot go up by more than inflation, except in a year of a revaluation.
Appealing against the rateable value
If you believe the rateable value is incorrect, or the circumstances of the property have changed, you may be able appeal against it. Further information on the grounds for making an appeal, and how to make one, can be found on the Valuation Office Association (VOA) website
The effect of successful appeals against values shown in the rating list that came into force on the 1 April 2005 will normally be backdated to the beginning of the financial year in which they are made, although there are exceptions to this. Further information about these arrangements may be obtain from the VOA website.
What happens when a Revaluation occurs?
As property values often change between valuations, transitional arrangements are used to help phase the changes in.
After a valuation, the amount by which a bill can rise is limited. These limits continue to apply every year until the full amount is due (the rateable value times the multiplier).
To help pay for the limits on bill increases there also have to be a limit on the reductions in bills. This limit will continue to apply to yearly decreases until the full amount is due.
This scheme only applies to the bill bases on a property at the time of the revaluation. If there are changes to the property after the revaluation date transitional arrangements will not usually apply to that part of the bill.
How do I pay the bill?
Payments can be made in full by the date of the first instalment. All Business Rates payers have the right to pay by monthly instalments, normally over ten months, April to January. You can pay by:
- Direct Debit - this is the easiest way to pay. Over 50% of business rate accounts for this borough are paid by this method. It is the preferred method of payment. To set up a Direct Debit, contact the Business Rates team on 0121 704 8175 or fill in a Direct Debit application form (see below)..
- In Person - By Cash, Cheque or Card at Solihull Connect or an Area Housing Office.
- By post - By cheque, to the address below (cheque should be paid to 'Solihull MBC' and it must have 'account payee only' written on it). Please write your bill reference number on the back of the cheque.
- Over the phone by Debit/Credit card using the automatic 24 hour telephone service: 0121 704 0869
- Online - make payment by Debit Card using our secure internet payment facility https://www.solihull.gov.uk/epay/
If you have any problems paying your bill, please contact us as soon as possible on 0121 704 8175. Every effort will be made to make a mutually acceptable arrangement.
Contact Details
For further information on Business Rates, please contact the Business Rates Team
Telephone: 0121 704 8175
Email: businessrates@solihull.gov.uk