Business rates: challenge 2023 valuation by 31 March

Here’s the key date in plain English: you have until 31 March 2026 to ask the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) to correct your current (2023) business rates valuation. From 1 April 2026, a new rating list starts and you’ll only be able to request changes to the new valuation. Leave time for admin: setting up an account and linking your property can take up to 15 working days. (gov.uk) This timetable applies to non‑domestic properties in England and Wales and sits within the normal three‑year revaluation cycle, with the 2026 revaluation taking effect on 1 April 2026. (gov.uk)

Let’s ground the jargon. Your ‘rateable value’ is set by the VOA and your local council uses it to work out your business rates bill. It’s not the bill itself, but it strongly influences what you pay, so accuracy matters. You can look up values for your property and similar ones to understand how yours compares before you take any action. (gov.uk)

If you think something’s off, start by signing in to your business rates valuation account. New users now sign in with GOV.UK One Login; some existing users still have Government Gateway. If your Government Gateway ID has been inactive for three years or more, it may have been deleted for security, so you’ll need to create a new account and reclaim your property-a process that can take up to 15 working days. (gov.uk)

Once you’re in, check the factual details the VOA holds-floor area, use, layout, and any physical changes. If anything is wrong, tell the VOA through your account. Be aware that a correction can move your 2023 rateable value up or down, and changes may also influence your future valuation. Accuracy, not guesswork, is the goal here. (gov.uk)

Waiting for verification or just planning your next step? You can still see the future (2026) rateable value for your property without logging in by using the ‘Find a business rates valuation’ service on GOV.UK. Use this to compare values and gather evidence before you submit anything. (gov.uk)

If your question is about the bill itself, discounts and reliefs, or payment plans, your local council is the right contact. The VOA handles valuations; councils handle billing and reliefs. Going to the right place saves time-especially in the run‑up to the 31 March deadline. (gov.uk)

Why is there a deadline at all? When a new list begins, the old one must close so everyone has a clear, final record. There are limited exceptions: if you start a Check before 1 April 2026, it can continue; the VOA can fix mistakes on the 2023 list until 31 March 2027; and if you’re relying on a tribunal or court decision, you must make a Check by 30 September 2026. (valuationoffice.blog.gov.uk)

A quick note on who’s running the service. The VOA is being brought into HM Revenue & Customs by 1 April 2026, but officials say live and future cases-and how you use your business rates valuation account-won’t change because of this move. In other words, keep using the same services as normal. (gov.uk)

What this means for you and your planning: act early, keep evidence tidy, and remember that corrections aren’t one‑way. If you’re a first‑time business owner or student founder, treat this as a practical exercise in civic admin-checking facts, comparing sources, and making a time‑bound decision that affects cashflow over the next year.

One last tip if you’re on the fence. If you raise a Check by 31 March 2026 and the VOA agrees a change, that change carries into the 2026 list. So a timely correction can prevent paying the wrong amount now and stop the same issue rolling into the next cycle. That’s two wins for one piece of effort. (gov.uk)