Retailers have called for Government to deal with a backlog of business rates appeals, warning that a delay in refunds could put store groups out of business.

A backlog of almost 250,000 business rates appeals have amounted, and the British Retail Consortium (BRC) said some retailers are nearing collapse before they find out whether they have been overcharged.

BRC said the delays were causing some shops serious cash flow problems, according to The Independent.

A BRC spokesman said: “We are aware of significant backlogs.

“We get a lot of feedback from retailers who tell us they are having problems claiming money back. This is going to causing a big cash-flow problem, and it is often only the larger firms which have the resources to try appealing.”

Businesses have been hit by an additional £500m rates bill over the past two years due to onerous increases. The 2.6% increase planned for April is set to cost them £175m more.

Retail Week and the BRC are lobbying Government to freeze business rates this year and switch the calculation from RPI to CPI, in the Fair Rates for Retail campaign.

CVS, an agency that assists firms with appeals, said the backlog was was now “weakening the financial health of a large number businesses”. It called for “urgent action to clear the backlog and give firms a fighting chance”.

 

 

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