Business Rates Reform – Have your say!

Whilst there is currently a full business rates holiday for the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors for the rest of the remainder of the financial year, business rates generally remain an area under review. The government is now calling for responses to its wide-ranging Business Rates Review with a view to considering fundamental changes to the system in the medium to long term. Views are sought on various areas including the reliefs and exemptions, multipliers, the valuation process and appeals process with responses required by 31 October 2020 although an earlier deadline of 18 September 2020 applies in relation to multipliers and reliefs. Preliminary conclusions are expected in autumn 2020 with a final report due in spring 2021 (HM Treasury: HM Treasury fundamental review of business rates: call for evidence (21 July 2020))