Understanding my business rates bill

Pay any outstanding balance from 2024/25 by 31st March 2025 unless you have an approved payment arrangement in place. 

Please check the last bill on your MHA to view when your instalments are due, as there may be a final payment due on a date in March 2025.

If your balance has been referred to Enforcement Agents, contact them to make payment.

Balances subject to court proceedings will be marked on your Annual Bill.

Please download the Refund Request Form at and then complete and upload it using the Evidence upload form.

Requesting a refund will increase your 2025/2026 monthly payments, and a new bill will be sent after 1st April 2025.

You can view payment methods on the back of your bill, or see Pay my Business Rates.

You can set up a Direct Debit Payment.

Existing Direct Debits which have not been cancelled will continue automatically.

You have two options to pay over 12 months:

• Set up a Direct Debit
• submit a request using the Business Rates Enquiry Form

Pay the 1st April instalment before requesting a change to ensure 12 monthly instalments.

If you recently applied for a Business Rates reduction, it might still be awaiting processing. Continue to pay as instructed until you receive a revised bill.

If awarded a full exemption and your account is in credit, you can request a refund.

Check if the exemption/relief has been applied on your MHA account.

For more details on reliefs or exemptions, visit Business rate reliefs and exemptions. You can upload your application using the Business Rates Evidence form

Please tell us about this change using the Evidence upload form. 

A revised or new bill will be sent once processed, which you can check via your MHA account. You can check this on your MyHarrow Account.

If your business premises have a rateable value of over £75,000, you must pay a supplement to cover the costs of Crossrail.

For more information, visit www.crossrail.co.uk

The rateable value threshold increased from £70,000 to £75,000 as a result of Business Rate revaluation effective from 1st April 2023.

The business rates appeal process in England is called Check and Challenge.

The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) handles checks and challenges, and an independent Valuation Tribunal handles appeals.

For more information see How to check your rateable value is correct.

Yes, you must pay your current Business Rates bill until your appeal is determined.

The standard non-domestic rating multiplier is 55.5p.

The small business non-domestic rating multiplier is 49.9p.

If you reported a change after 14th February 2025, an amended bill will be sent after 1st April 2025.

If your rateable value (RV) is under £12,000 and you only have one property you are entitled to 100% relief.

A taper applies to RVs between £12,001 and £15,000.

If your RV is under £51,000, your charge is calculated using the SBR multiplier.

For more information see Business Rates reliefs and exemptions.

All commercial properties in England were revalued from 1st April 2023.

If your Business Rates liability on 1st April 2023 exceeded that on 31st March 2023 by more than a government specified amount, transitional relief would have been awarded.  Any entitlement given, is revised each year in accordance with prescribed statutory provisions and subsists for up to three years.

This relief is automatically calculated and shown on your bill.

2025/26 is the final year for transitional relief.
 

For more information see Transitional Relief.

From 1st April 2025, relief for retail, hospitality, and leisure businesses reduces from 75% to 40%, with a cash cap of £110,000 per business per year.

No rateable value threshold applies.

Details of the businesses that may be eligible for relief under the scheme can be found at Business Rates Reliefs.

The scheme is subject to Minimal Financial Assistance limits under the Subsidy Control Act. This means that no recipient can receive over £315,000 over a 3-year period (consisting of the current financial year and the 2 previous financial years) and any other subsidy claimed under the Minimal Financial Assistance or Small Amounts of Financial Assistance limit over the 3-year period should be counted towards that total.

Central Government announced on 17th November 2022 through the Autumn statement that if you experienced any reduction in Small Business Rates Relief due to the effects of revaluation from 1st April 2023, any increase in Business Rates payable as a consequence, would be limited to £50.00 a month (i.e. a maximum of £600.00 per annum).This will automatically show on your Annual Bill if you are entitled. 

You can find information on our Business Rate Webpages

Submit enquiries using the Business Rates Enquiry Form

Upload supporting documents using the Business Rates Evidence Form

Contact details are also on your bill.

Contact the Council at the earliest opportunity using the Business Rates Evidence form or visit Greenhill Library.

It may be possible to arrange a short-term payment plan and check whether you may be entitled to a reduction.

Staff at Greenhill Library. can assist with online services.

Address: Greenhill Library, Perceval Square, College Road, Harrow, HA1 1GX.

Service available Monday to Friday, 10am to 5pm.

Submit enquiries, inform us of any changes, make cashless payments, and submit requested documents (which will be scanned for electronic access) at the library.

The Harrow Register Office, for the registration of births, deaths and marriages is also situated at Greenhill Library and is located in ‘The Pavilion’ next door to the main Library service.

99% of our customer interactions are now online or over the telephone. If you have an enquiry relating to Business Rates, you may wish to first visit our Business Rates webpages