Pickles announces help for small business owners
November 26, 2010 Leave a Comment
Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles has announced this week that small businesses will find it easier to get tax relief and cuts as Government form filling rules are to be scrapped to help increase take up.
Small Business Rate Relief has already been doubled this year, but the Government also wants to help as many small businesses as possible to claim the discounts they are eligible for.
The new changes in the upcoming Localism Bill will end the legal requirement for ratepayers to fill in an application form first. Councils will be free to administer Small Business Rate Relief in a way that best serves local businesses and local needs. Legislation will also ensure that all eligible businesses automatically have their discounted bills calculated using the small business multiplier.
There are also proposals to look at ways for Local Authorities to keep the business rates they collect locally – which would give councils incentives to promote local economic growth. In addition, councils will get the power to set local discounts on business rates – enabling councils to respond to local circumstances and encourage new start-up enterprises.