The Inland Revenue could be forced to repay pubs millions of pounds following a landmark court case in which it was forced to repay two Milton Keynes pubs backdated rates of about £300,000.
The rebates to the two Buckinghamshire houses, owned by Punch Retail and Scottish and Newcastle Retail, opens the way for other high street pubs to claim back millions of pounds in overpaid rates over the last decade, according to property company Chesterton.
It said the historic case meant the Valuation Office could no longer insist that occupiers pay rates that reflected the business potential of their premises rather than their existing use.
The two pubs have seen their rates assessments cut from £210,000 to £50,000 and £132,000 to £29,500 respectively.
It is not known whether the Inland Revenue will appeal.
The rebates to the two Buckinghamshire houses, owned by Punch Retail and Scottish and Newcastle Retail, opens the way for other high street pubs to claim back millions of pounds in overpaid rates over the last decade, according to property company Chesterton.
It said the historic case meant the Valuation Office could no longer insist that occupiers pay rates that reflected the business potential of their premises rather than their existing use.
The two pubs have seen their rates assessments cut from £210,000 to £50,000 and £132,000 to £29,500 respectively.
It is not known whether the Inland Revenue will appeal.
