// England councils have been told to not issue business rates bills this month ahead of the new 2021/22 financial year
// The government has urged councils to delay issuing business rates bills until after Chancellor Rishi Sunak sets out the Budget on March 3
// The business rates holiday in England is currently due to end on March 31
The government has urged England’s councils not to issue business rates bills this month ahead of the new 2021/22 financial year.
Councils have been demanded to delay issuing business rates bills until after Chancellor Rishi Sunak sets out the Budget on March 3.
The government has signalled that further support for occupiers of commercial property like shops, pubs and restaurants is coming.
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The business rates holiday in England is currently due to end on March 31.
Real estate adviser Altus Group said the Treasury is attempting to negate the economic impact of the pandemic, and has written off business rates bills for the current financial year, which runs from April 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021, to the tune of £10.13 billion fully exempting 358,264 occupied retail, leisure and hospitality properties in England.
Financial secretary to the Treasury, Jesse Norman said that the local government is responsible for the administration of non-domestic rates in England.
As part of this function, billing authorities will shortly begin preparing to issue annual rates bills to businesses.
The Budget will set out the next phase of the government’s plans to tackle the pandemic, protect jobs and support businesses.
“Billing authorities in England should therefore consider issuing business rates bills after the chancellor has set out his plan at the Budget,” Norman said.
The business rates holiday in Scotland – which was scheduled to end on March 31, 2021 – has already been extended.
13 large retailers, including the Big 4 supermarkets, have already agreed to repay £2.16 billion in rates relief that they have received through the holiday to support their business during Covid-19.
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