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  "path": "/money/britain-highest-property-tax-burden",
  "publishedAt": "2026-05-18T06:33:26.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "tags": [
    "State pension proposal could scrap triple lock and save UK £19billion a year",
    "Inflation forecast to fall but 'sharp energy bill increase' to hit YOU this summer",
    "The major Net Zero tripping point in Andy Burnham's Labour leadership hopes",
    "The GB News Editorial Charter"
  ],
  "textContent": "\n\n\nBritain now bears the heaviest property tax burden among all major developed economies, with levies accounting for 3.7 per cent of GDP according to Ryan's annual business rates review.\n\nThe UK ranks ahead of both France and Canada, which each stand at 3.4 per cent, while Belgium and Luxembourg follow at 3.3 per cent.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nBusiness rates alone are forecast to generate £37.1billion during the 2026-27 financial year, marking a sharp rise from £33.6billion in the previous period.\n\nLabour implemented revalued rates across England, Wales and Scotland from April following the end of pandemic-era support measures and updated property valuations.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nTRENDING\n\nStories\n\nVideos\n\nYour Say\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nProperty taxes now contribute just under 11 per cent of total Government revenues, making Britain the third-highest ranked advanced economy by this measure.\n\nClose to 40,000 companies are currently awaiting responses after challenging revised business rates they believe to be inaccurate.\n\nThe valuation office agency, which operates under HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), is expected to face a further surge of appeals from hospitality firms impacted by increased rateable values introduced this year.\n\nBusinesses are enduring an average wait of 11 months before appeals are considered, during which time they must continue paying the higher tax rate.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nSome firms are facing delays of up to 18 months before assessments are completed.\n\nThe prolonged waiting periods combined with rising levies have forced some smaller businesses to close altogether.\n\nExperts expect the appeals backlog to worsen further as more hospitality operators submit objections over their revised rates.\n\nAlex Probyn, practice leader at tax firm Ryan, said: \"Business property is carrying a disproportionate share of the overall tax burden, and that is beginning to weigh heavily on investment, particularly in sectors that rely on physical assets and long-term capital.\"\n\n### LATEST DEVELOPMENTS\n\n\n\n\n  * State pension proposal could scrap triple lock and save UK £19billion a year\n  * Inflation forecast to fall but 'sharp energy bill increase' to hit YOU this summer\n  * The major Net Zero tripping point in Andy Burnham's Labour leadership hopes\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nMr Probyn said the issue reflected a wider structural problem rather than solely concerns around valuation methods.\n\n\"Property taxes in the UK are the highest by international standards, and the system is designed in a way that continues to increase the yield over time.\n\n\"That creates a clear tension between the need to raise revenue and the need to support investment. That balance has to be addressed.\"\n\nThe report warned Britain's reliance on property tax revenues could make meaningful reform more difficult to implement.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nBusinesses are also contending with rising energy costs linked to the conflict in Iran, which began at the end of February.\n\nThe combination of higher business rates and increased energy bills has led many firms to scale back expansion plans.\n\nThree in five companies have frozen hiring and investment plans as a result of mounting financial pressures.\n\nThe report said businesses dependent on physical premises and high levels of energy consumption face particularly difficult trading conditions.\n\nRyan warned Britain's public finances remain heavily exposed to any downturn in investment activity or falling real estate values, increasing pressure on both businesses and the Treasury.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n**Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter**",
  "title": "Britain hit with highest property tax burden in the developed world"
}