A review into the way business rates are administered, led by the Treasury and Department for Communities and Local Government, has been welcomed by the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS).
The review will look at the application of reliefs, communication with ratepayers, changes to the valuation process and frequency of valuation but is not reviewing the link between business rates and rental property values.
The review stipulates it needs a rates system to deliver “fairness, stability and predictability to ratepayers” and changes would need to maintain the current tax yield from rates.
ACS chief executive James Lowman said: “This review will provide retailers with a great opportunity to communicate the impact of business rate and how the system can be improved. We support a more fundamental review of business rates to ensure that this £23bn tax burden is shared fairly and does not prevent sustainable investment and growth.”
ACS chairs the policy group of the Future High Street Forum and has been calling on Government to lead the debate on long-term reform of the business rates system and to encourage greater use of the discretionary rate relief scheme by local authorities.
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