FIRMS wishing to challenge business rates hikes will have to wait an extra month before they can have appeals heard, it has emerged.
Companies facing substantial rises - some are seeing their bills triple - are being urged by business lobbies to make formal appeals against revaluations.
However, the Scottish Government has extended the deadline for appeals to be heard from 70 days to 135.
Scottish Conservative shadow finance secretary Murdo Fraser claimed the move was “yet more evidence of the SNP’s business rates fiasco unravelling”.
The MSP added: “Firms are being forced to wait more than a month extra to get their appeals heard.
“Considering finances for many of these organisations affected will already be tight, they can hardly afford to wait an additional 35 days.”
Pubs, clubs and restaurants have been urged by the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce to appeal new rates bills amid concern they will push licensees out of business.
This backlash is the latest against controversial revaluation notices issued across the country and comes despite a move by Finance Secretary Derek Mackay last month to cap increases.
The licensed trade - already reeling from lower sales - has argued it has been unfairly hit by the revaluations, which were not designed to raise overall revenue.
Mr Mackay has announced a 12.5 per cent real term cap on rates increases this rises to 14/75 per cent with inflation. Mr Fraser suggested Mr Mackay’s administration had “forgotten” to adjust his figure for inflation.
A Scottish Government spokesman denied this and added that changes in the valuations appears regime had been made months ago, before the current row. He said: “We were clear from the outset – on the day it was announced to parliament - that this was a real terms cap, which has been the case with previous transitional relief schemes, delivering around £44.6 million of additional support where it is most needed.
“Improvements to valuation appeal procedures were announced last October, following public consultation including wide business and practitioner input.”
Brewer Tennent’s yesterday added to calls for licensed traders to appeal, arranging for legal advice for any of its customers. Its sales director, Alan Hay, Sales Director at Tennent’s said: “We welcomed the recent decision by Finance Minister, Derek Mackay to cap 2017 rates. However, there is a need for a complete overhaul of the way in which hospitality businesses are rated and assessed. 12.5 per cent is still a significant additional financial burden to place on a business.
“As a one-stop-shop for the licensed trade, we are committed to supporting operators at all levels and that extends to business rates.”
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