Scottish Government has unveiled its Budget for 2017-18, which includes important announcements regarding business rates in Scotland. Non-domestic rates represent the second largest source of revenue under the direct control of Scottish Government, after Scottish Income Tax, and are estimated to raise more than £2.6 billion in 2017-18. ...Read More

The Court of Appeal has determined that an air conditioning system, installed by Iceland at one of its stores, did not qualify as "trade process" plant and machinery and was not, therefore, exempt from business rates. The system was to be valued as part of the rateable value of the store. ...Read More

The Autumn Statement 2016 contained a number of announcements that tinker with the business rates system but any ambition for fundamental reform has disappeared from government thinking. The Uniform Business Rate multiplier in England for next year will be very slightly lower than previously announced and there will be slight changes to the scheme of transitional adjustments from those set out in the recent consultation paper, along with other more minor changes ...Read More

Welsh Assembly Government has published proposals for a very limited scheme of transitional adjustments to affect rate liabilities following the 2017 Rating Revaluation. The proposal is designed to help small businesses whose entitlement to small business rate relief may be altered as a result of the forthcoming revaluation. ...Read More

New Rateable Values have been published for all non-domestic properties in England and Wales. these new values, together with the new Uniform Business Rate multiplier and the scheme of transitional adjustments, will set business rates liabilities for five years from 1 April 2017. the revaluation is the first in England and Wales for seven years and shows major changes in rates liability between different classes of property and different regions. ...Read More

The Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) has confirmed the assessment of offices at Ely Place in central London and has dismissed an appeal by the ratepayer. The Tribunal expressed concern about the way in which valuations are presented on the Valuation Office Agency website. ...Read More

The Government has given its first formal indication of the impact of next year's business rates revaluation - and it is not good news for London, nor for occupiers of larger properties. The announcement also gave details of the Uniform Business Rate multiplier for England for next year, and of a proposed scheme of transitional adjustments to phase in changes in rates liability following the revaluation. ...Read More

There will be major changes to business rates appeals for next year's rating revaluation. The changes are significantly disadvantageous to ratepayers. Despite the Government's claims that the new system will be "easier to navigate, particularly for small businesses", the playing field will not be a level one and the draft regulations contain elements that will cause real concern for many ratepayers. ...Read More

The Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) has determined that the assessment of a restaurant in Covent Garden should be reduced on an appeal made by the ratepayer, because the lower level seating area had been valued at too high a relativity. The decision contains helpful comments on when it may be relevant to make comparison between one rating list and another. ...Read More

As part of its "devolution revolution" the Government proposes that, from 2020, local authorities should be able to retain all the business rates income generated in their area. At present only half of that income is retained in that way and even that is subject to some complex "top-up" and "tariff" arrangements, designed to ensure that local authorities are not left under-funded. The change to 100% retention will involve further alterations to these arrangements and the Government is consulting on those changes. They will represent a major change to the way that local authorities are funded so the consultation is an important one. ...Read More