News

The new arrangements for questioning Rateable Values under the ‘Check, Challenge & Appeal’ system only apply to properties in England, but will require ratepayers to get involved in a considerable amount of administration where they have a large number of English properties.

For how to register, see below:

STAGE ONE

• Firstly, a business will have to register through the Government Gateway website: www.gateway.gov.uk
• The business may already be registered and have an account but will need to obtain an Assistant or Administrator User ID and password.
• If not already on the system, then register the business and move on to obtaining the Assistant or Administrator User ID and password.

STAGE TWO

• This involves using the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) website: www.gov.uk/correct-your-business-rates
• On the VOA website, at the bottom of the first page where it says “Before you start”, click “SIGN IN”.
• Enter your Government Gateway User ID and password from Stage One.
• Complete the identity verification process for which you need to provide your NI Number, date of birth and details from one of the following:
  – A payslip
  – Your UK Passport number
  – A P60
• Register your business
• Manage Properties – This has to be done individually, property by property, and you will need to have a PDF of the current rate bill for every English property available, but then carry on as follows:
  – Click ‘Claim Property’
  – Search for the property using the Advanced Search – for our rating clients we are able to supply a spreadsheet which, once under ‘Claim Property’, you can click the link which will take you straight to the relevant hereditament
  – When you have identified it, click ‘Claim this property’ at the bottom of the page
  – Complete the details on the next screen detailing whether you are the owner or occupier and click ‘Add property’
  – Upload a copy of your rates bill – Under ‘Manage Properties’ click ‘Appoint agent’
  – Enter your agent’s code.
  – Where Rapleys is instructed to act on your behalf, enter Rapleys’ Agent Code which is 39059
  – Click ‘Yes’ and ‘Yes’

• Until the registration process is complete, agents cannot get involved with their clients’ properties.

For any help on registering your business, please contact Stacey Jolly – stacey.jolly@rapleys.com | 07714 133953 – or Alan Watson.