inform:estate is coming this October

Business rates are a significant cost for many organisations, yet understanding whether historic liabilities were calculated correctly is not always straightforward. For organisations managing multiple properties, years of billing records can build up alongside changes in occupation, property information, reliefs and other adjustments. Even where robust processes are in place, the complexity of this information can mean potential historic discrepancies are not immediately apparent. So, why can an overpayment sometimes remain undiscovered for years? Business rates bills reflect a point in time A business rates bill does not exist in isolation. The amount charged can reflect a range of information and circumstances applicable during a particular period. Over several years, properties may change occupation, relief eligibility may change and billing adjustments may be applied. For larger or more complex portfolios, this can create a substantial historic record to understand. Identifying a potential discrepancy can therefore require more than looking at an individual bill. It may involve considering the wider history behind the liability and the information available at the relevant time. Property portfolios rarely stand still Organisations acquire, dispose of...

August was a relatively quiet month for business rates, but two developments stood out for organisations managing larger or more complex property portfolios. Neither creates an immediate new requirement for most ratepayers, but both are relevant to the way property information and valuation could evolve over the coming years. Duty to Notify: implementation pushed back On 19 August, HMRC confirmed that the timetable for the new Duty to Notify is under review following feedback from businesses. The duty will not become mandatory before 2029 and HMRC has made clear that businesses and rating agents do not need to begin preparatory work at this stage. Once introduced, the duty is expected to require ratepayers to report certain changes relating to the occupier, lease or rent, and the property itself. A smaller number of businesses will also need to provide annual trade information where this is used for valuation purposes. For organisations managing large estates, the significance is not simply that the timetable has moved. The direction of travel remains towards more current and transparent property information being supplied to the Valuation...

Great software is rarely built in isolation. It comes from understanding the people who will use it, the challenges they encounter every day and the way their work is changing. That thinking sits at the heart of inform. For more than 25 years, we have developed software for the business rates sector. That experience gives us a strong understanding of rating practice, but the way organisations work continues to change. Building what comes next means combining that knowledge with modern technology, new perspectives and closer collaboration with the people using our software.   The next chapter for inform The first major step in that next chapter is inform:estate. Launching more widely this October, inform:estate is our new enterprise-grade platform for modern property and rating management, designed to support organisations of all sizes as their estates, data and operational requirements grow. Built around modern rating operations, it creates a more connected environment for managing portfolio activity, workflows and operational insight, giving teams greater visibility and control across increasingly complex estates. But inform:estate is not simply about introducing new technology. It also reflects...

For many organisations, the phrase "business rates review" is immediately associated with recovering overpayments. While identifying historic overpayments can be an important outcome, it is only one part of the picture. A historic business rates review can also provide reassurance that historic liabilities have been calculated correctly based on the information, legislation and property records that applied at the time. Whether discrepancies are identified or not, an independent review can help organisations better understand their historic business rates position.   Looking beyond financial recovery Business rates liabilities are influenced by a combination of property information, valuation data, billing adjustments and reliefs. As property portfolios evolve, understanding how these factors have interacted over several years can become increasingly complex. A historic review provides an opportunity to examine historic liabilities independently, helping organisations gain greater confidence in the accuracy of previous charges and the information on which they were based.   Confidence through independent review For finance, estates and property teams, reassurance can be just as valuable as identifying an adjustment. Where no discrepancies are found, organisations gain confidence that their historic...

July brought a change of Prime Minister and an early indication that business rates will remain firmly on the agenda. For organisations managing large or complex property portfolios, the real interest lies beyond the headlines. The more important question is what these developments could mean for future liabilities, financial planning and the way property and rates information is managed across an estate.   A more targeted approach to relief One of the government’s first major business rates announcements was a 20% reduction for eligible pubs, social clubs and live music venues from April 2027. Although the measure is aimed at a specific group, it may also offer an early indication of the direction future reform could take. Rather than applying support broadly, the government may increasingly use business rates relief to support particular sectors, property uses or businesses seen as making a positive contribution to local communities. For property occupiers, this makes it increasingly important to understand how individual sites are classified, which reliefs may apply and how changes could affect liabilities across a wider portfolio.   Business rates and the...