The process of narrowing the gulf between the business rates paid by online retailers and their high street peers will take a small step forward this week, as the government assesses the higher rents paid by warehouses ahead of the next revaluation.
Online retailers, which have been criticised for paying much lower business rates than their high street counterparts, are likely to face higher bills from 2021 as a result of big increases in rents for the distribution centres that are key to their operations.
By contrast, many high street operators – which have seen sales stagnate – will see their bills fall.
