Business Rates

Click on Scottish 2012-13 Business Rates Deferral Scheme for more information and an application form. 

In his Autumn Statement the Chancellor confirmed that the increase in 2012-13 business rates bills for businesses in England and Wales would be based on the 5.6 percent increase arising from September’s irregularly high RPI multiplier.  

Disappointingly the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, John Swinney MSP, followed suit and confirmed on 8 December that the 2012-13 business rates poundage will be 45p meaning a 5.6% increase next April in Scottish business rates. 

Given that this is an exceptionally difficult period for the retail sector with falling sales, faltering consumer confidence and considerable increases in overhead costs, SGF saw this as a missed opportunity.

The Scottish Government has already signalled, on numerous occasions, its desire to stimulate economic growth through cutting corporation tax – an economic lever over which it currently has no control.  This was, therefore, an opportunity for the Scottish Government to apply the same principle to business rates – a lever over which they do have control.