Council working to uncover those evading business rates
Telford & Wrekin Council is working hard to eradicate benefit fraud in the borough with its latest campaign encouraging members of the public to report others for suspected fraud.
However benefit fraud is only one side of the coin. The other side of the coin sees the Council’s revenues team working hard to secure all the business rates that are due in the borough.
The revenues team aim to identify these businesses and begin to recoup lost business rates as well as secure the future continuing payment of these rates.
While it may be more difficult to identify those evading business rates compared to suspected benefit fraudsters, the Council is currently updating its website pages to provide more information about business rates which members of the public may find useful if they have any suspicions about the way businesses are operating.
The website will also provide an opportunity for people to report businesses who they suspect of not paying the business rates they should.
Cllr Lee Carter, cabinet member for Finance and Service Delivery, said: “We have a business winning, business supporting ethos here at Telford & Wrekin, but we also want businesses to know that the payment of business rates is also of paramount importance if we are to grow as a borough and not simply cave in under the pressure of ever increasing budget cuts.
“The payment of business rates should be seen as an investment in the future growth of the business paying the rates, and the borough in which the business is based.
“Our revenues team does a lot behind the scenes to work with businesses and identify those with rate anomalies, but members of the public may be able to provide us with useful information to help us secure business rates due.”
While the website forms are being created people can contact the Revenues and Benefits team to report businesses on 01952 383839.
Businesses wishing to check what business rates they should be paying can visit www.telford.gov.uk/businessrates
