Small business rate relief

 Government steps in over small business rate relief

The government has stepped in to try to speed up business rate relief to thousands of small firms. Businesses in England, hit by huge hikes in their rates bills, were promised millions of pounds in support by the chancellor in March; however, months on from the start of the new tax regime in April, many are still waiting for their bills to be adjusted. Local Government Minister Marcus Jones has called the main software providers to councils into Whitehall for talks. A deadline of 21 August has now been agreed for the companies - Capita, Civica and Northgate Public Services - to provide councils with updated software to help them issue new bills to the affected businesses. The Federation of Small Businesses has described the delays as "shambolic".

Source: BBC News (30/07/2017)