‘Software issues’ cause business rate billing errors in Wrexham

Wrexham Council have written to non domestic rate payers to explain they have had a “number of software issues” which has led to a delay in reliefs being awarded.

The Council noted that other local authorities have had similar delays due to sharing the same system provider.

Rate payers were told that where the Council are able to automatically award reliefs they will, however if there is any uncertainty application forms will be issued.

The Council’s communication also adds: “For the same software reason, we have also had issues with Transitional Relief awards and this has taken priority over the High Street relief awards as the TR has to be correct before the HS relief can be awarded. The TR issue has been sorted today, and we are issuing a number of revised bills with explanatory letters.”

We asked Wrexham Council for comment on what issued occurred, and when/how it was identified.

Wrexham Council told us this afternoon: “Welsh Government announced a number of changes to Business Rates relief schemes for the 2018/2019 financial year including the introduction of a permanent Small Business Rates Relief Scheme, a new High Street Relief scheme as well as the continuation of the Transitional Relief scheme.

“Once new, or revised relief schemes are implemented, the software suppliers then have to develop software which ensures customer accounts are calculated correctly. This software then has to be tested and any issues resolved before the relief awards can be applied to customer accounts. Although Wrexham Council successfully tested and implemented the Small Business Relief scheme in time for the annual business rates bills to be calculated in February 2018, the software for the High Street Relief scheme was not available until April 2018 but there were still software issues which have only recently been resolved.”

“The High Street Relief scheme provides a reduction of up to £750 to certain eligible businesses. In 2017/2018, approximately 300 businesses across Wrexham were eligible for the scheme, however the maximum relief provided by the Welsh Government last year was up to £1,500 per business.

“Where possible, and in order to speed up the process, Wrexham Council will identify businesses meeting the relief criteria and automatically award the relevant reduction. Where the Council is unable to establish eligibility, an application form will be issued to businesses. Similar to the previous financial year, It is anticipated that all relief awards will be finalised in June 2018.”

We also asked who the software provider is, and the number of properties affected by the issues, but had no answer.

No timeframe for the errors to be corrected, and billing to brought up to date, were provided either.

Wrexham Council say anyone wanting further information on the High Street Relief scheme can visit this page on the Welsh Government website here.