Guide

What business rates are

Publication date
17 September 2025

What business rates are

Business rates are a tax on non-domestic properties (buildings that people do not live in), such as:

  • shops
  • offices
  • restaurants
  • warehouses
  • factories.

Find out how business rates are calculated (mygov.scot website).

Who must pay them

You’ll probably need to pay business rates if you use a building, or part of a building, for:

  • business purposes
  • other non-domestic purposes, such as education, social care, or waste management.

The Scottish Government has an online calculator for estimating your yearly business rates bill (mygov.scot website).