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Business Rates: Tax Allowances

Asked by Sir James CleverlyConservativeTreasuryTabled Answered 15 January 2026UIN 103778

The question

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 18 November 2025 to Question 88672, on Business Rates: Tax Allowances, whether any impact assessment has been undertaken of the effect of the £1.1 billion in business rates from the reduction in Retail, Hospitality and Leisure rate relief from 2024-25 to 2025-26.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson

The Government is introducing new permanently lower tax rates for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) properties. These new tax rates are worth nearly £900 million per year and will benefit over 750,000 properties.

The new RHL tax rates replace the temporary RHL relief that has been winding down since COVID. Unlike RHL relief, the new rates are permanent, giving businesses certainty and stability, and there will be no cap, meaning all qualifying properties on high streets across England will benefit.

The total change in business rates revenue is set out in the OBR’s Economic and Fiscal Outlook.

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