27th January 2020
17th January 2020
Empty businesses cost UK taxpayers £1bn a year
Empty businesses cost UK taxpayers £1bn a year, with the North West being one of the worst affected regions, according to BBC research out today. The data is once again prompting calls for urgent reform... Continue reading
13th January 2020
More business rates relief announced for Welsh SMEs
Welsh Assembly Finance Minister Rebecca Evans has announced an additional £24.2m to support businesses in 2020-21 through the Welsh Government’s high street and retail rates’ relief scheme. The scheme, first introduced in 2017, is being... Continue reading
7th January 2020
Retail Relief Scheme could be 2020 lifeline
Hard-pressed independents, particularly in the hospitality sector, may save more than £10,500 after April 1 thanks to the retail discount being applied for 2020/21 business rates. The business rates’ retail relief scheme applies to occupied... Continue reading
16th December 2019
Business rates – NHS claim for charitable status dismissed by High Court
By Stuart Hicks, Director. The High Court has dismissed a claim by 17 NHS trusts that they are charities and should receive millions of pounds of business rates relief. Derby Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust... Continue reading
10th December 2019
Private schools in Scotland to lose business rate tax relief
Private schools are to be taxed full business rates next year, the Scottish government has confirmed, with less than a year to go before the changes come into effect. The announcement means the schools will... Continue reading1st December 2019
Promises Promises – business rate policies feature in unveiled manifestos
By Stuart Hicks, Director With all the Party Manifestos now published with two weeks to go to polling day it was heartening to see business rates considered important enough to warrant policy pledges from all... Continue reading 20th November 2019
Conservatives drop “fiscally neutral” rule from business rate reforms
By Stuart Hicks, Director Phillip Hammond’s repeated pledge to keep any business rate reforms fiscally neutral have been relegated to the political wilderness by an electioneering Conservative Party which is promising to reduce the overall... Continue reading 18th November 2019