Highest rates since 1999

derek-mackay
Scottish Government finance secretary Derek Mackay

BUSINESS rate poundage is now at its highest level for 20 years.

Scottish Government ministers confirmed that both the headline poundage/tax rate and the large business rates supplement have reached their highest levels since 1999/2000.

The large business rates supplement – which is applicable to more than 5,000 retailers – has risen from 41.4% to 51.6%, while the headline business rate has increased from 40.7% to 49%.

David Lonsdale, director of the Scottish Retail Consortium, said that the burden of business rates was “onerous.”