Freeports and Special Economic Zones: Tax Allowances
The question
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the estimated annual cost to the public purse is of tax reliefs associated with Freeports, Special Economic Zones, Investment Zones, and Industrial Strategy Zones.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson
Special Economic Zones is an umbrella term that covers Industrial Strategy Zones and Enterprise Zones. The UK’s Industrial Strategy Zones include both Freeports and Investment zones.
For Freeports, the latest cost in 2023-24 (excluding Business Rates) can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/tax-reliefs/tax-relief-statistics-january-2026.
For Investment Zones, the cost in 2025-26 (including Business Rates) can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/spring-budget-2024.
For the Capital Allowances relief in Enterprise Zones the latest cost for 2019-20 can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/tax-reliefs/tax-relief-statistics-january-2026.
MHCLG published Business Rates reliefs statistics and forecasts here: National non-domestic rates collected by councils in England: forecast for 2026 to 2027 - GOV.UK
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