There was hope that the Chancellor's Autumn Statement announcement might contain some significant proposed changes for the business rates system but it appears to be less of a firecracker and more of a damp squib. ...Read More

A major shake-up of the business rates appeals system is proposed by the Government. A consultation paper sets out preliminary details of the new system "Check, Challenge and Appeal" which the Government proposes to put into place from 1 April 2017. The changes will impose significant burdens on ratepayers. ...Read More

The September 2015 Retail Prices Index (RPI) figure has been announced today and shows a 0.8% increase over the previous year. This sets the upper limit by which next year's Uniform Business Rate (UBR) can increase in England and Wales. ...Read More

George Osborne, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, promised a number of changes to the business rates system in his speech to the Conservative party conference. What are his proposals and what should we make of them? ...Read More

The Enterprise Bill 2015 has been introduced into Parliament and contains powers for important changes to the business rates appeals system. The Bill also, as we reported in our news item on the Queen's Speech, contains new powers for the Valuation Office Agency to share information with local government regarding business rates assessments. These are important changes but appear to do little to help ratepayers or to assist "Enterprise"... ...Read More

Coinciding with the Chancellor's "Stability Budget" on 8 July 2015 were three announcements regarding potential future changes to the business rates regime. The first was an update on progress in respect of the Business Rates Administration Review and, in particular, changes to: business rates appeals; sharing information between the Valuation Office Agency and local authorities; and billing and collection of business rates. The second followed the consultation on "Business Rates Avoidance" and promises the development of "anti-avoidance measures" to be announced at a later date. And the third launched a consultation on potential business rates relief for local newspapers. ...Read More

The Queen's Speech promises changes to some elements of the business rates regime, but the reforms seem unlikely to address the more fundamental problems of the system. ...Read More

The Government has published draft regulations that will affect the backdating of appeals made against rating assessments. The draft regulations are due to come into force on 28 March 2015 and will affect business rates appeals made on or after 1 April 2015. This is a significant change to the rules on rates appeals and is one which ratepayers should review carefully. ...Read More

DCLG has published a consultation paper "Council Tax and Business Rates - Powers of Entry" seeking views on its proposed amendments to the powers of the Valuation Office Agency to enter properties as part of its role in valuing properties for Council Tax and Non-Domestic Rating. ...Read More

The Government proposes to allow Councils to retain business rates income from shale oil and gas sites in their areas. ...Read More