Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Dealers hit by £3.8m rates appeal backlog
Delays in processing business rate appeals are costing motor trade businesses over £3.8m per year according to new research from CVS, the property services specialist.
CVS has uncovered a backlog of over 328,000 business rate appeals at the Valuation Office Agency (VOA), the body in charge of calculating business rates and council tax in England and Wales. A third of these appeals date back to 2005 and 1,847 relate to motor trade businesses.
“Tens of thousands of business ratepayers have paid too much and, to compound the problem, they are unable to retrieve the money owed to them as a result of the inefficient appeals process,” said Don Baker, CVS’ national head of rating.
CVS has estimated it will take nearly 2.5 years to clear the backlog of 2010 appeals.
“This inability to resolve appeals in a timely fashion and return money to businesses that have over-paid is fast becoming a business critical issue according to CVS, and is preventing SME businesses from contributing to a private sector recovery,” said Baker.
CVS blames new procedures introduced in January 2011 for the appeals backlog.
DATED: 21.11.11
FEED: MT
