Companies in England now owe local councils almost £2.5 billion in unpaid business rates, according to new analysis.
Many firms have seen their debt piles climb higher over the past year after being forced to shut their doors for long periods or having faced disruption from pandemic restrictions.
The Government has offered retail, leisure and hospitality companies a business rates holiday since the onset of the pandemic last year and confirmed this week that it will extend the current ban on commercial evictions until next March.
However, analysis of official data by real estate advisers Altus Group has revealed a jump in rates arrears despite financial support measures in place.
Councils collected £14.88 billion in business rates in the year to March 31 2021 from firms not eligible for the holiday.
Altus said the figures also revealed £1.18 billion in rates arrears accrued over the year, taking total rates debt, including arrears from previous years, to £2.49 billion.
The large rates debt burden is expected to particularly affect office operators and industrial firms who still had to pay full business rates but have been impacted heavily by Covid-19.
This debt mountain comes on top of billions in rent debt arrears, with hospitality and retail trade bosses warning that the firms across the sectors face unpaid rent piles of more than £5 billion.
The new figures come as MPs prepare to debate legislation in Parliament on Monday which could rule out coronavirus-related business rates appeals.
From PA
