Confusion continues as Chancellor ignores business rates at the despatch box

Mark Rigby, Chief Executive at Commercial Valuers & Surveyors

Mark Rigby, Chief Executive at Commercial Valuers & Surveyors (CVS), said: “This Budget offers no clear signal that the confusion around business rates reform is going to be resolved any time soon.

"While a clear ‘business tax roadmap’ published by April 2016 is welcome, the Chancellor had nothing new to offer those affected by a broken business rates system.

“Confusion surrounds business rates reform – on one hand, the Queen’s Speech committed to reform the appeals process through the Enterprise Bill due to be published in October, while on the other the wider business rates review will conclude by the end of this year.

"UK businesses want to see clear action and the first step is a clear structural timetable. CVS calls on the Government to address the real obstacles in the rates system by bringing certainty to revaluations, efficiency to the appeals process, and crucial transparency to business rates assessments.”