The number of bricks and mortar businesses challenging their business rates bills has dropped by 78 per cent, the latest figures have shown.<\/p>\n
The finding forms part of the Valuation Office Agency\u2019s latest report into the ‘Check, Challenge, Appeal’ scheme, which allows a business to lodge an appeal with the independent Valuation Tribunal for England (VTE) to have its business rates reviewed.<\/p>\n
According to the statistics, just 82,400 properties in England lodged an appeal against the authority since the most recent business rates revaluation in 2017. This represents a 78 per cent drop from the 371,250 appeals lodged after the last revaluation in 2010.<\/p>\n
Commenting on the figures, the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) said the alarmingly low number of businesses appealing rates signals that the system needs to be \u201curgently reformed\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cRolled out at the same time as 2017\u2019s revaluation, the current CCA system forces time-pressed small firms, already having to deal with unfair revaluations, to try and navigate the complicated platform,\u201d said FSB National Chairman, Mike Cherry.<\/p>\n
\u201cMany simply don\u2019t have the time or money to bring together a case using the overly complicated system, risking financial penalties if they challenge them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Cherry added that this means that small businesses are \u201cwalking away from the system\u201d and potentially paying the wrong business rates bill.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe system needs to make sure businesses understand what they are being charged for so they can make a sensible judgement about whether to appeal or not.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt must make sure smaller businesses know how their rates bills are calculated without having to lodge a formal complaint. There must also be a reduced evidence burden placed on them at the initial stages if they appeal their bills.\u201d<\/p>\n