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Businesses thrown a rates bill 'googly'

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30th Mar 2005
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The Forum of Private Business has said that small firms "should query their new business rates bill if they believe it is too high."

The organisation says that more than 1.5 million business rate bills are being received as a result of new rateable values, which are reassessed by councils every five years, and that "on average retailers' business rates bills will increase by 15.7% from April 2005."

But the Forum of Private Business said many of its members had "been thrown a googly by the new bills and had contacted FPB to complain they cannot claim Small Business Rates Relief (SBRR) because their bills had increased."

The FPB's Head of Research Andy Mowlah said he "urged firms unhappy with their new business rates bills to query their rateable values with the valuation office, or for FPB members to call its Member Information Services team which offers free advice on the likelihood of a business rates appeal succeeding."

Mowlah argued, "The SBRR scheme, which will also be introduced in April 2005, is badly targeted...Many firms will find that their new rateable values actually disqualify them from receiving rates relief. Frankly the positive effects of SBRR will be short-lived and will actively disadvantage businesses occupying premises with a rateable value (RV) of more than £15,000."

He added that the FPB's recent campaigning had been acknowledged by the Local Government Minister Nick Raynsford MP as being the "driving force" behind improvements to the initially proposed scheme protecting those businesses with RV's of up to £15,000 in England, but that under the new proposals "a number of private business that occupy large premises will still miss out on rates relief and even face a surcharge."

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John Stokdyk, AccountingWEB head of insight
By John Stokdyk
01st Apr 2005 09:05

FSB takes similar line - but figures differ
The Federation of Small Business issued a similar release, but strangely estimated the likely increase to be 15.7%.

The increases were due to a combination of three factors, the FSB said:
an increase of more than 3% to account for inflation
the recent five-yearly revaluation of business premises that has led to a huge increase in the rateable value of shops, particularly in affluent areas,
an extra 4% increase to safeguard the government against any revenue it will lose from subsequent successful revaluation appeals.

FSB Business Rates Chairman Roger Culcheth commented: “Many small firms will see an increase in their business rate bills but retailers across the south of England face the biggest hikes.

“Business rates are the second or third highest item of expenditure for most small firms and are five times more expensive as a proportion of turnover than they are for large companies. The odds are already stacking up against small shops and we are concerned that some independent retailers will find it impossible to absorb these additional costs.

“Rates relief gives some protection to small businesses but many small shops in affluent parts of the country fall above the £10,000 threshold. Small business rates relief should be extended to all business premises with a rateable value of less than £25,000.”

John Stokdyk
Editor
AccountingWEB.co.uk

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John Stokdyk, AccountingWEB head of insight
By John Stokdyk
01st Apr 2005 11:28

Everyone should query their valuations
The FPB representative in Bristol has passed on the following comment from business rates consultant Bill Woodward, who trades under the name of Grangewood Consultants (Tel 0117 956 7252).

"Ratepayers should query their rates even if it is 'as expected'. I am finding mistakes made in valuations that if not checked could go unchallenged. Recently I discovered a shop which on the surface appeared ordinary and of not much interest, but on closer examination proved to be nearly 20m2 overpriced. This was due to a passage having been carved out of the side of the shop some 10 yrs ago, but which had not been acknowledged on the ratepayer’s valuation or bill.

"People should also be reminded that they need to re-apply for the Small Business Rates Relief each year and deadlines exist on this."

On the subject of the national average rateable average increase, Woodward's figures suggest 17.3%. "But here in the South West we are amongst highest in UK with 23.34%. Ahead of us is South East with 23.65%."

Thanks for the additional information, Bill.

John Stokdyk
Editor
AccountingWEB.co.uk

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