“Government plans for a major overhaul of the controversial levy have been ‘thrown into the long grass’ and only smaller scale tweaks will be unveiled by Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor, later this month, The Telegraph has learned.”
This is another big disappointment for businesses after the original promise by the UK Government to respond to the detailed and constructive input of business and professional bodies to the fundamental review by Autumn 2020. The review process began in March 2020.
The RICS, IRRV and Rating Surveyors Association engaged positively in the consultation process and made constructive and realistic suggestions for change that would be to the benefit of all business rate stakeholders.
After two previous postponements, this is now to be delayed yet again to an unspecified future date. This news is extremely disheartening and makes one question the commitment to real reform.
The accumulated problems with the current system will not go away and we would hope the government will now prioritise a substantive response by the end of the year.