As at 30 September 2016, the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) - the government body responsible for valuation and property advice required to support taxation and benefits - had received just over 1m million challenges against the 2010 rating list; just over half of the 1.9m rateable properties across England and Wales.
From 31 March 2017, the VOA will no longer accept any challenges to assessments contained within the 2010 rating list which means that the ratepayers of the 916,490 assessments that have not been challenged will lose their right to appeal, potentially missing out on a refund of thousands of pounds in overpaid business rates liabilities.
We are urging ratepayers in this position to complete our online form to establish whether they have grounds for appeal before it’s too late.
Paul Easton, National Head of Business Rates at LSH, commented: “29% of the challenges received by the VOA up to 30 September 2016 resulted in a change to the 2010 rating list entry. If we extend that percentage to those assessments that have not yet been challenged, it could mean that a further 265,782 assessments are due a refund.
“Ratepayers have already been stung by the Government, following its decision to limit the backdating of savings on rating appeals from 1 April 1 2010 to 1 April 2015, we are therefore urging them to seek advice on whether they have grounds for a potential appeal to ensure that they do not miss out entirely.”
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