VALUATION OFFICE AGENCY

Web Site

Practitioners are advised to regularly view the Valuation Office Agency web site at https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/valuation-office-agency.

Publications

Latest publications added to the Valuation Office Agency web site include:-

• Check and challenge: group pre-challenge review (2 November 2023)
  https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-and-challenge-group-pre-challenge-review.

• Non-domestic rating: challenges and changes (2 November 2023)
  https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/non-domestic-rating-challenges-and-changes.

• Non-domestic rating: challenges and changes, 2017 and 2023 rating lists, September 2023 (2 November 2023)
  https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/non-domestic-rating-challenges-and-changes-2017-and-2023-rating-lists-september-2023.

• Local reference rents, listed by BRMA and property size (October 2023) (1 November 2023)
  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-reference-rents-listed-by-brma-and-property-size-october-2023.

• Local reference rent levels (1 November 2023)
  https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/local-reference-rents-levels-collection.

• HMRC and VOA: workforce management information, September 2023 (31 October 2023)
  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hmrc-and-voa-workforce-management-information-september-2023.

• HMRC: workforce management information (31 October 2023)
  https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmrc-workforce-management-information.

• Check and challenge your business rates valuation: step by step (30 October 2023)
  https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-and-challenge-your-business-rates-valuation-step-by-step.

• Appeal the outcome (30 October 2023)
  https://www.gov.uk/guidance/appeal-the-outcome.

• Challenge the valuation (30 October 2023)
  https://www.gov.uk/guidance/challenge-the-valuation.

• Add your property to your account (30 October 2023)
  https://www.gov.uk/guidance/add-your-property-to-your-account.

• Appointing an agent for business rates (30 October 2023)
  https://www.gov.uk/guidance/appoint-an-agent.

• Register for a business rates valuation account (30 October 2023)
  https://www.gov.uk/guidance/register-for-the-service.

• Confirm your property details (30 October 2023)
  https://www.gov.uk/guidance/confirm-your-property-details.

• VOA: prompt payment data April 2023 to March 2024 (30 October 2023)
  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/voa-prompt-payment-data-april-2023-to-march-2024.

Manuals / Guides

The following Manuals / Guides have been published by the Valuation Office Agency:-

• Capital Gains and Other Taxes Manual
  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/capital-gains-other-taxes-manual.

• Council Tax Manual
  https://www.gov.uk/guidance/council-tax-manual.

• Inheritance Tax Manual
  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/valuation-office-agency-inheritance-tax-manual.

• Land Compensation Manual
  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-land-compensation-manual.

• Rating Manual
  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/valuation-office-agency-rating-manual.

• Rating Cost Guide 2023
  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rating-cost-guide-2023.

Complaints Procedure 

The Valuation Office Agency Complaints Procedure can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/valuation-office-agency-complaints-procedure.

Billing Authority Submission Standards

The latest Valuation Office Agency Billing Authority Submissions Standards can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/valuation-office-agency-billing-authority-report-best-practice.

Litigation and Settlement Strategy

The latest Valuation Office Agency Litigation and Settlement Strategy can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/voa-litigation-and-settlement-strategy.

Annual Report and Accounts / Business Plan 2021/22

The Annual Report and Accounts 2021/22 of the Valuation Office Agency can be found at
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/valuation-office-agency-annual-report-and-accounts-2021-to-2022.

The Business Plan 2021/22 of the Valuation Office Agency can be found at
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/valuation-office-agency-business-plan-2021-to-2022.

Local Government Inboxes

The Local Authority Engagement Team was originally set up to support local authorities with rates retention in England. However, their remit has evolved and extended into Council Tax, Housing Allowance and Wales. The issues are much wider now and 'Rates Retention Team' no longer reflects what they do.

To compliment this, they now have a new mailbox which is LAengagement@voa.gov.uk.

NDR Unit Inboxes

Following a Valuation Office Agency organisational restructure, there are now fewer ‘units’, but all the existing Unit mailboxes remain active and are regularly monitored.  Customers should use the following mailboxes for service of documents and enquiries to the new Regional Valuation Units (RVU):-

Council Tax

• RVU North: ctnorth@voa.gov.uk.

• RVU East: cteast@voa.gov.uk.

• RVU South: ctsouth@voa.gov.uk.

• RVU Wales and West: ctwales@voa.gov.uk or ctwest@voa.gov.uk.

Non-Domestic Rate

• RVU North: ratingnorthwest@voa.gov.uk.

• RVU East: ratingeast@voa.gov.uk.

• RVU South: ratingsoutheast@voa.gov.uk.

• RVU Wales and West: ratingwales@voa.gov.uk or ratingcentral@voa.gov.uk.

Press Release: Be wary of Rogue Business Rates Agents

A Press Release on ‘Be wary of Rogue Business Rates Agents on 7 June 2023 can be found at 
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/be-wary-of-rogue-business-rates-agents.

SCOTTISH ASSESSORS

Practitioners are advised to regularly view the Scottish Assessors web site at https://www.saa.gov.uk/.

LAND AND PROPERTY SERVICES (NI)

Practitioners are advised to regularly view the Land and Property Services (NI) web site at www.finance-ni.gov.uk/land-property-services-lps.

The latest on Revaluation can be found at www.finance-ni.gov.uk/reval2023.