MJ Experia Marketing Support the FSB’s Call for Action on Taxation, Energy and Business Rates

Following the Autumn Statement date announcement, the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has called on the Chancellor to take action on taxation, energy and business rates. Matt Wassall of MJ Experia Marketing supports this campaign and requests more support for small businesses to strengthen economic growth.

With the upcoming Autumn Statement due on 5 December, George Osborne might be tempted to declare victory as public finances are recovering and the British economy is growing. According to some experts, the UK may finish the year as the best performing economy in the G7 (telegraph.co.uk). Matt Wassall, Managing Director of MJ Experia Marketing, is however concerned that with increasing confidence the Government may not focus enough on the wellbeing of small businesses.

“We are hoping for more tax simplification in order to make it easier for small firms and to encourage more entrepreneurs to start up their business,” explains Matt Wassall of MJ Experia Marketing. Business leaders have been pushing to cut the top rate of income tax from 45pc to 40pc. Experts find it however more likely that the Chancellor might give into another demand of reducing capital gains tax, currently at 28pc, in order to continuously encourage entrepreneurs (telegraph.co.uk). “Small businesses are a key driver of economic growth,” says Matt Wassall, “and therefore the Government needs to take action to maintain or even increase confidence among entrepreneurs.”

Furthermore, the FSB sees business rates as a significant cost for small enterprises and unrelated to their economic activity, with some firms paying more in business rates than in rent. Over a quarter of a million companies rely on 100% rate relief to survive, but relief at this rate is due to expire next year. The FSB reports that this would be equivalent to introducing a new tax on 293,000 small and micro businesses just as the economy is starting to recover (fsb.org.uk).

Moreover, utility bills contribute to rising costs for Britain’s businesses and are expected to rise further after energy firms have announced above inflation price increases (fsb.org.uk). MJ Experia Marketing support the FSB’s call for competitive energy deals for small firms. Unlike household tariffs, business energy rates are not published which means that small businesses need to ask for quotes from each supplier individually (fsb.org.uk). Matt Wassall of MJ Experia Marketing insists that more transparency and comparable tariffs would make it easier for businesses to control their expenses.

John Allan, National Chairman at the FSB, says: “Energy and business rates are an increasing cost burden for firms up and down the country and are two areas we have highlighted to the Chancellor as needing particular attention. We therefore want to see recognition from him that the Government understands the huge impact these issues have on businesses. Clear proposals and timetables for reforms in both of these areas will lock in the confidence we have begun to see building among small firms” (fsb.org.uk).

MJ Experia Marketing is an outsourced sales and marketing company based in Birmingham. “Being a business owner myself, I sincerely hope that the Government will put a lot of thought into the Autumn Statement. I would love to see the Chancellor acknowledging the positive impact of small firms to economical growth and hope that the Government will support small firms even more in the coming month and years,” says Matt Wassall of MJ Experia Marketing.

Sources:
http://www.fsb.org.uk/News.aspx?loc=023&rec=8426

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/budget/10484931/Autumn-Statement-2013-From-business-rates-to-energy-bills-what-Thursday-holds-for-Britain-Plc.html