How the rateable value affects your rates bill
To work out your bill, the local authority starts by multiplying your rateable value by a factor known as the 'multiplier'.
There are two multipliers:
- Use the standard multiplier if your rateable value is £51,000 or more
- Use the small business multiplier if your rateable value is below £51,000
The multiplier is fixed each year by the government. Between revaluations the multiplier cannot increase by more than the annual rate of inflation for each financial year (as at the previous September). For 2018/2019, the small business multiplier has been set at 48.0p. If, for example, your rateable value is £10,000, the calculation for that year is £10,000 x 0.480 = £4,800 - this is the amount you would have to pay. There may be further calculations to go through because of transitional arrangements or relief, or both.
Listed below are tables of the standard multipliers and small business multipliers for England for previous financial years and the current financial year.
Financial year | Standard multiplier |
1990/91 | 0.348 |
1991/92 | 0.386 |
1992/93 | 0.402 |
1993/94 | 0.416 |
1994/95 | 0.423 |
1995/96 | 0.432 |
1996/97 | 0.449 |
1997/98 | 0.458 |
1998/99 | 0.474 |
1999/00 | 0.489 |
2000/01 | 0.416 |
2001/02 | 0.43 |
2002/03 | 0.437 |
2003/04 | 0.444 |
2004/05 | 0.456 |
2005/06 | 0.422 |
2006/07 | 0.433 |
2007/08 | 0.444 |
2008/09 | 0.462 |
2009/10 | 0.485 |
2010/11 | 0.414 |
2011/12 | 0.433 |
2012/13 | 0.458 |
2013/14 | 0.471 |
2014/15 | 0.482 |
2015/16 | 0.493 |
2016/17 | 0.497 |
2017/18 | 0.479 |
2018/19 | 0.493 |
2019/20 | 0.504 |
2020/21 | 0.512 |
Small business multiplier
Small business ratepayers have a lower multiplier. For more information on rates relief for small businesses please see business rates reductions.
Financial year | Multiplier |
2009/10 | 0.481 |
2010/11 | 0.407 |
2011/12 | 0.426 |
2012/13 | 0.450 |
2013/14 | 0.462 |
2014/15 | 0.471 |
2015/16 | 0.480 |
2016/17 | 0.484 |
2017/18 | 0.466 |
2018/19 | 0.480 |
2019/20 | 0.491 |
2020/21 | 0.499 |