About Us
The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) has four main functions:
- Valuing domestic properties in England and Wales for council tax, dealing with appeals, and maintaining an accurate and comprehensive valuation list
- Valuing non-domestic properties in England and Wales for non-domestic rates, and again dealing with appeals and maintaining an accurate and comprehensive rating list
- Giving valuation advice to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) in connection with Capital Gains, Inheritance Tax, and other compliance work
The key priorities for the Agency for the next three years are:
- Maintaining progress in improving the timeliness, quality, and cost-effectiveness of operations across the board, against the background of a reducing budget
- Preparing for the 2010 Non-domestic rating revaluation in England and Wales
- Maintaining the council tax list in England
- Playing a full part in helping HM Revenue & Customs to reduce underpayment of direct tax
- Working more closely with other public sector bodies to assist them in making the best possible use of their property
The Agency also has a role in giving policy advice to Ministers on property matters.
The Agency currently has around 4,000 staff. Well over 1,000 of these staff are chartered surveyors, and a further 1,400 are technically trained. There are some 85 offices across Great Britain: although local taxation work is handled by others in Scotland, the VOA carries out general valuation work and support for HMRC there. The Agency's budget for 2007-08 is around £215 million: all funding comes from clients (mostly from Communities and Local Government), rather than direct from the Exchequer.
