Identifying areas for business rates reform

The ask

Business rates are out of balance, unjust and inequitable. This campaign brings together the businesses most affected by business rates to deliver a policy proposal that sets a clear path forward for the next government.

At the first meeting, the CBI convened businesses to discuss the principles that should underpin our reform proposal (certainty, transparency simplicity, competitiveness, and fairness). And we refined the scope of the campaign by identifying areas of consensus to improve the current business rates system.

The second meeting

The CBI convened businesses across all sectors to discuss the trade-offs associated with reducing the business rates burden. Given the tight fiscal environment the next government will inherit, any proposals would need to ensure revenue neutrality – meaning that a new system would need to raise the same amount of tax revenue. Attendees representing their various businesses discussed the implications of introducing and/or raising other taxes such as a General Sales