Councils are being invited to provide feedback on the responsiveness and effectiveness of the Government’s new business rates system.
Announced at last year’s Autumn Statement, the discussion paper on the administration of the business rate system calls on local authorities and companies to consider how the structure in England is administered by the Valuation Office Agency and town halls.
Views are being sought on how the business rates system can also be improved over the long term, with the Government looking to use the review to ultimately strengthen the system’s responsiveness to changes in property values, simplicity and transparency.
The review will focus on the valuation of property, how frequently property is valued, how business rates are set and collected and the use of information about ratepayers and business rates.
Local government minister Brandon Lewis said backing ‘business with taxes which are lower and more efficient’ was ‘a key part of the Government’s long-term economic plan’.
‘The Government will now look at options for longer-term administrative reform of business rates after 2017 that are simpler and deliver fairness, stability and predictability to ratepayers,’ he added.
Exchequer secretary to the Treasury, David Gauke, said: ‘Through this review, we want to look at options for longer-term reforms that will make the system fairer, more efficient and more responsive to economic circumstances, while making sure business rates remain a stable and sustainable tax which funds essential local services.’
