The Local Government Finance Act 1988 restructured the system of local government finance in England, Wales, and Scotland. It introduced key reforms, including the implementation of the community charge (commonly known as the "poll tax") and later, the council tax system. It also created the framework for non-domestic rating (business rates), which continues to apply to commercial properties today.
The Act governs how local authorities raise and manage funds through taxation. It established central rules for property valuation, rate-setting, and billing, while also outlining central government oversight and grant mechanisms. Although the community charge provisions were later repealed, the business rates system introduced by the Act remains a core part of local authority funding.
Benefits of compliance:
