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Supermarkets and shops hit hardest by business rates shake-up – research

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Supermarkets and shops hit hardest by business rates shake-up – research



Changes to property taxes designed to “level the tax playing field” between high street and online retailers will hit shops including supermarkets and department stores hardest, according to new analysis.

Research by global tax services firm Ryan found the changes to business rates coming into force next year will hit thousands of physical stores with major bill increases.

Experts have said the “policy risks penalising the very businesses that anchor the high street”.

From April 2026, the Treasury will introduce a new business rates surcharge of up to 10p on properties with a rateable value (RV) of £500,000 or more.

It has previously said the surcharge is designed to permanently fund reduced levels of the commercial property tax for smaller retail, leisure, and hospitality premises.

The Government said that the measures launched at the previous autumn budget were intended “to level the playing field for the high street”.

Analysis of official Government data by Ryan found that retail, leisure and hospitality businesses are likely to face up to £482 million a year in extra business rates on just their physical premises alone.

The data shows that warehouses and distribution operators will face a smaller hit of about £262 million.

Meanwhile, almost three times as many retail, hospitality and leisure properties – 4,353 – could be impacted compared to 1,589 large distribution warehouses.

The research indicated that more than 1,803 large supermarkets would see rate increases.

Meanwhile, there would be an increase of about £75 million across 650 UK hospitality businesses, with an increase of up to £48.5 million across 429 leisure properties.

Alex Probyn, practice leader for property tax at Ryan, said: “The bluntness of this policy is stark.

“Only 129 properties are pure online retailers, yet thousands of supermarkets, department stores and out-of-town chains — plus the HQs and distribution centres that support them — will be dragged into this new tax.

“Instead of targeting the online operators it was designed to address, the policy risks penalising the very businesses that anchor the high street and provide mass employment.”



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Murdochs reach deal in succession battle

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Murdochs reach deal in succession battle


A years-long succession battle within Rupert Murdoch’s conservative media empire has drawn to a close, with his son Lachlan set to control the news group.

The deal, which the family announced on Monday, will ensure the ongoing conservative leaning of Fox News, The Wall Street Journal and The New York Post even after 94-year-old Rupert’s death.

Under the agreement Lachlan will control a new trust while siblings Prue MacLeod, Elizabeth Murdoch and James Murdoch will cease being beneficiaries of any trust with shares in Fox or News Corp.

It follows years of tension between the media mogul and three of his children over the future of the family-owned newspapers and television networks.

The Murdoch family’s internal turmoil served as inspiration for the hit television drama Succession. The deal announced on Monday to end the real-life saga ends all litigation over the family’s trust.

Lachlan’s more politically moderate oldest siblings are poised to sell their holdings in Fox and News Corp in the coming months. They will also be named as beneficiaries of a new trust, which will receive cash from the sale of about 14.2 million shares of News Corp. and 16.9 million shares of Fox Corp.

The sale of their shares will add to the three siblings’ existing inheritance, but prevent them from having any influence over the political bent of the family’s media conglomerate.

Lachlan is currently the chair of News Corp, which counts The Wall Street Journal and The Times among its slew of publications. He is widely seen as the most politically conservative of Rupert’s oldest children.

“The leadership, vision and management by the company’s chair, Lachlan Murdoch, will continue to be important to guiding the company’s strategy and success,” News Corp said in a statement announcing the deal.



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Sunderland free school uniform shop Second Chance moves

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Sunderland free school uniform shop Second Chance moves


Andy WatsonBBC News, North East and Cumbria, Hendon, Sunderland

BBC Wendy English the founder of Second Chance Sunderland stands in front of their new store in Hendon. She had shoulder-length blonde hair and smiles at the camera.BBC

Second Chance, founded by Wendy English, has been running for nearly three years in Sunderland

A community shop on Wearside which runs a free second-hand school uniform scheme has moved into a larger premises to cope with a rise in demand.

Second Chance CIC in Hendon, Sunderland, collects donations of pre-worn items which are offered to those in need for no charge.

It has moved to a new premises on Toward Road after being “inundated” with parents asking for support.

Director Wendy English said it could give out “200 items a week” because families were unable to afford to buy a new uniform on top of bills and food.

“I had a family in the other week and they were struggling so much that they couldn’t even afford to eat – and they didn’t have their uniform in,” she said.

“They were struggling like mad so we made sure they got everything they needed.”

The group have also received thousands of pounds worth of grants from the Community Lottery Fund and Sunderland City Council, which has allowed it to buy new items of clothing.

Mrs English said: “This bigger store was exactly what we need as we simply couldn’t handle the number of clothes being donated at our previous one.

“But now being able to buy new clothes and not just rely on pre-warn donations is something we’ve not been able to do and it’s been so well received.”

Julianna Atola stands in the Second Chance store in Hendon in front of a rack of second hand clothes, she is dressed in a pink jumper.

Julianna Atola described Second Chance as “a big help”

Mrs English said on average 20 families use the service each day.

Julianna Atola went to Second Chance to get a uniform for her four-year-old daughter, who has just started school.

“It’s a big help,” she said. “Their second-use clothes is just as good as new but the difference is it’s no cost.”

Earlier this year, the Department for Education (DfE) announced it would change the law to limit the number of compulsory branded items required by schools to three, plus a branded tie for secondary students, in a bid to cut costs for families.

The government said it believed parents in England would save about £50 per child through its school uniform measures, which it hopes to introduce next September.

However, Mrs English said it was still “not enough”.

“They should just get rid of all branded items,” she said.

“I’m sure it would be a massive help to families.”



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‘US has long benefitted from free trade’: Chinese envoy slams 50% tariffs on India; calls them ‘unfair, unreasonable’ – The Times of India

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‘US has long benefitted from free trade’: Chinese envoy slams 50% tariffs on India; calls them ‘unfair, unreasonable’ – The Times of India


China took aim at the United States on Monday, sharply criticizing its 50% tariffs on Indian imports, calling the move “unfair, unreasonable” and making it clear that Beijing firmly opposes the move.China’s ambassador to India, Xu Feihong said that Washington has long taken advantage of free trade, but is now using it as a weapon.Speaking at a seminar marking the 80th Anniversary of the Victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, Xu said, “The United States has long benefited from free trade. But now it is using tariffs as a weapon to demand exorbitant prices… The 50% tariff on India is unfair, unreasonable, and China firmly opposes it.”The ambassador also stressed the importance of strong India-China ties for global development. “As the two most significant emerging economies, China and India should prioritise development and foster mutual support and success. This is what President Xi told PM Modi. PM Modi said that India-China cooperation will make the 21st century a genuine Asian century,” ANI reported him as saying.Xu’s remarks, delivered under the theme Learning from History to Safeguard the Light of Peace, Joining Hands to Chart a Blueprint for Development, highlighted the shared history of both nations and their commitment to peace and progress in Asia.His comments come amid growing economic uncertainty after the US imposed a an additional 25% levy on 27 August as a secondary sanction linked to India’s purchases of Russian crude. This came on the top of an already existing 25% tariff on Indian imports to the country, taking the total to 50%.US President Donald Trump defended these measures and warned that “Phase-2” and “Phase-3” tariffs have not yet been implemented against countries maintaining trade ties with Russia. Speaking at a White House press conference with Polish President Andrzej Duda, he said the secondary sanctions on India targeted Russia’s oil exports. “Would you say that putting secondary sanctions on India, the largest purchaser outside China, they are almost equal. Would you say there was no action? That cost hundreds of billions of dollars to Russia, you call that no action? I haven’t done Phase-2 yet or Phase-3,” he said.Trump also reiterated his earlier warning that India could face “big problems” if it continued Russian oil imports. “Two weeks ago, I said if India buys, India has got big problems, and that’s what happens,” he added.In a separate interview on The Scott Jennings Radio Show, the US president further claimed that New Delhi had offered a “no tariff” deal following the US decision to raise duties on Indian goods. “India was the most highly tariffed nation in the world, and you know what, they’ve offered me no tariffs in India anymore. If I didn’t have tariffs, they would never make that offer,” he said.Trump further stressed that tariffs are essential for rebalancing trade. “China kills us with tariffs, India kills us with tariffs, Brazil kills us with tariffs. I’ve understood tariffs better than any human beings in the world,” he claimed. Further, describing the US-India trade relationship as a “one-sided disaster,” he added that India had benefited disproportionately over decades, while American companies struggled to enter the Indian market due to high duties. “They have now offered to cut their tariffs to nothing, but it’s getting late. Until now, it was a totally one-sided relationship for many decades,” he concluded.





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