Business Rates Rise of Increasing Concern

Rises to business rates are a major concern for small firms amidst changes to the tax system, a survey of the Forum of Private Business (FPB) has found.

Members of FPB were polled on the current Government’s changes to tax.

28 percent of the business owners said that tax fairness had deteriorated compared to 17 percent who thought that it had improved. A quarter stated they thought that the tax system had become more complicated compared to the 17 percent who said it had simplified.

An enormous 94 percent believed that the level of tax on commercial property was too high. The FPB referred to it as a “crippling tax” and called for concessions for small businesses to be introduced in the next budget.

Forum Chief Executive Phil Orford said: “ While there’s no doubt that businesses should pay their way for services such as bin collections and for roads to be properly maintained, many feel their hard earned cash is not being spent wisely, or certainly not for their advantage or benefit.”

He added: “This research shows George Osborne really has to consider – and seriously – making a credible concession to small business in the Budget on this moot point. Businesses are clearly unhappy about the spiralling costs of NDR [non-domestic rates], and we think the tipping point is about to arrive, if it hasn’t already.”

“If rates keep charging upwards then businesses are going to go bust – it’s as simple as that.”