Business rates in England/Wales, or non-domestic rates, are a tax on the occupation of non-domestic property. Rates are a property tax with ancient roots that was formerly used to fund local services that was formalised with the Poor Law 1572 and superseded by the Poor Law of 1601.

So it really is time to scrap this over-complicated unfair TAX and replace it with a fair, transparent, easy to understand tax that people can't avoid, by using loop-holes or not declaring business ventures. I realise that this generates £23Bn in tax (which I guarantee is not used to fund affordable housing or helping the poor). Surely this tax burden should be shared by the likes of Amazon, Google, AirBnB, Booking dot com, etc etc etc as well as normal businesses. It should across the board be based on net profit not gross turnover in the UK for all businesses whether a corner shop, restaurant, cafe, public house, supermarket, caravan site, camping grounds, amazon, expedia, etc.

As a self catering holiday home owner I pay a great deal of business rates as well as contributing to the local community through Council Tax. So why shouldn't all people letting out properties irrespective of the number (generally second homes or investment properties) all pay their fair share as well, rather than being exempt through a loophole? Also why is the free business rate cap on business rates set at £12k in England and £6k in Wales - already an uneven playing field.

This is an outdated tax that needs scrapping and replacing quickly no consultations just implement it before the new tax year April 20. Announce it in the next budget. The UK Welsh Assembly needs to address this issue before all businesses close. We need to encourage businesses not tax them to the hilt.