Summary
The Business Rates Public Consultation was launched on the 16 September and aims to gather views on the future direction of the business rating system within Northern Ireland.
Documents
- 2019 Business Rates Review Consultation Report
- Consultation Questions
- 2019 Review of Business Rates - Terms of Reference
Consultation description
This consultation closed on 11 November 2019 and in total, the consultation received 239 responses. As set out in the terms of reference, the Department has now published the individual responses to the consultation.
In May 2019, the Department of Finance announced plans to undertake a full and comprehensive review of business rates in Northern Ireland. The Review was aimed at ensuring the Department of Finance was ready with updated advice for the anticipated return of Ministers in 2020.
A Consultation Report was prepared by the Department following the conclusion of the Review. Unfortunately the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic in early 2020 meant that the Review responses were submitted in a very different business environment to that which resulted from the pandemic, and more recently the cost of doing business crisis.
Nonetheless, in October 2022, and in recognition of the value of the work undertaken, the Department published the historical factual consultation report for reference purposes only. The findings of that period will, however, need to be recalibrated following the return of an Executive, to reflect the changes in the economy since the review was conducted in 2019.
Ways to respond
Consultation closed — responses are no longer being accepted.