Business leaders have written to the Finance Secretary calling for the reversal of a tax increase for larger firms.
Thirteen organisations including the Scottish Chambers of Commerce and CBI Scotland signed the letter to Derek Mackay stating the change would help "hard-pressed businesses" at a time of economic uncertainty.
The extra supplement levied on larger firms doubled in Scotland from 1.3p in the pound to 2.6p earlier this year but remained the same south of the border.
READ MORE: CBI defends lobbying record as departure of Scottish boss confirmed
The organisations want Mr Mackay to "level the playing field" between Scotland and England in his first budget, due to be presented to the Scottish Parliament later this year.
In the letter, they wrote: "This supplement affects one out of every eight commercial premises in Scotland and is expected to add a further £62 million to these businesses' rates bills in the current year.
"Reducing the surcharge to the level which applies in England would not only be fair and make Scotland's business rates more competitive, but would also help to reduce the cost base of many hard-pressed businesses at this time of economic uncertainty."
READ MORE: CBI defends lobbying record as departure of Scottish boss confirmed
A Scottish Government review of business rates is currently under way and is expected to be completed by summer 2017.
The letter continued: "We appreciate that the 2017 rates revaluation is looming and that the work of the Barclay review of business rates is just beginning to get under way, but a reduction in the large business supplement back to 1.3p would go a long way to levelling the business rates playing field across the United Kingdom."
Scottish Conservative economy spokesman Dean Lockhart said: "This joint letter acts as a reminder that the SNP must now start to heed warnings that Scotland is becoming the least competitive part of the UK to do business.
"The doubling of a large business supplement was an action the Scottish Conservatives opposed during the budget and its impact is beginning to be seen right across Scotland as small businesses become trapped in its net."
READ MORE: CBI defends lobbying record as departure of Scottish boss confirmed
The signatories of the letter are CBI Scotland, the British Aggregates Association, Scottish Engineering, Scottish Chambers of Commerce, the Scottish Grocers Federation, the Scottish Tourism Alliance, the Scotch Whisky Association, the Scottish Retail Consortium, British Hospitality Association Scotland, the Scottish Council for Development and Industry, the Scottish Property Federation, the Scottish Food and Drink Federation and the Institute of Directors Scotland.
A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: "The Scottish Government is determined to maintain competitive business rates and our small business bonus has already delivered over £1 billion in savings for smaller firms.
"Finance Secretary Derek Mackay will also meet business representatives to discuss economic recovery further.
"We have also commenced an external review to engage with business and explore how rates can better reflect economic conditions and support growth.
"However, our efforts risk being undermined by the UK Government's austerity policies and the current lack of action seen since the EU referendum.
"We will closely consider our business rates policies for 2017 to ensure competitiveness in light of the revaluation, and indeed have already pledged to expand the small business bonus scheme from next year so that it lifts 100,000 properties out of rates altogether."
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