21/10/2009 - Unpaid business tax figure doubles
New Government figures have revealed that £423 million of unpaid business rates were not paid by companies in 2008-9.
This figures is almost twice the amount of the previous year, which was £215 million.
The discovery was made after the information was released in a Commons written reply to shadow communities and local government secretary Caroline Spelman.
It also showed that more than £3.6 billion in unpaid rates had been written off since 2003-4.
Communities and local government minister Barbara Follett said the £423 million in unpaid rates for 2008-9 would be reduced as further payments were made.
"Collection of non-domestic rates continues after the year to which it relates has ended so the final amount not collected for the year will be lower than that shown in the table," she said.
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