Business rates battle to take years

Battle to claw back business rates could take years A new report warns that thousands of businesses could spend up to four years locked in a battle to claw back millions of pounds in 'unfair' business rates. Companies can appeal to the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) if they believe that their bill is too high. But a crippling backlog means there are now over 25,000 appeals against rates outstanding, according to analysis by Colliers International. At the current rate, some businesses will wait four more years to have their 2017 bills corrected.