Business Rates

Business rates is a local tax paid on all business/non-domestic properties.

Business rates are charged on most business properties such as shops, offices, pubs, warehouses and factories. However, the property does not have to be used for a business – if it is used for purposes which are not domestic it is likely to be rateable. We will send you a business rates bill each year.

Non-domestic rates (business rates) collected by local authorities ensures that anyone who occupies non-domestic property contributes towards the cost of local services.

Under the business rates retention arrangements introduced from 1 April 2013, authorities keep a proportion of the business rates paid locally. This provides a direct financial incentive for authorities to work with local businesses to create a favourable local environment for growth as authorities will benefit from growth in business rates revenues.

Local authority services are funded by business rates, council tax, revenue support grants provided by the Government and some others fees.

Visit Gov.uk for further information about the business rates system, including transitional and other reliefs.

Rates are payable on most occupied and some empty properties. However, there are certain classes of property that don’t have to pay. Please see our exemptions and reliefs page for more information.

In this section you can find out how rates are calculated, how to pay, revaluation and much more.

View business rates explanatory notes for 2025/26 [pdf] 126KB.

Changes announced in the Autumn Budget 2024

The small business rates multiplier will be frozen at 49.9p for occupied properties with a rateable value of less than 51,000.
The standard multiplier will be uprated in April in line with September’s CPI figure (1.6%), increasing the multiplier from 54.6p to 55.5p.
The Retail, Hospitality and Leisure (RHL) relief scheme will be extended for one year for 2025/26, retaining the existing eligibility criteria but reducing the level of relief to 40%, up to a cap of £110,000 per business.
From April 2025, charitable rate relief will no longer be applicable to private schools.

View more information on the Government's 2024 Autumn Budget.

Your revenues service

The aim of our revenues service is to provide the borough's businesses with a reliable and efficient service. We issue business rates bills, process changes, provide advice and recover unpaid debts.

If any of your circumstances change you may need to let us know, please email the business rates team.

Business rates e-billing

You can sign up for future e-billing, so that your invoices are sent by email rather than in the post.

Contact business rates

The administration of business rates for the borough of Ashford is handled by Canterbury City Council as part of a programme for Kent councils to work together. If you need to contact us by phone, fax or email, contact the business rates team at Canterbury:

Telephone: 01227 862316

Email the business rates team.