The Treasury select committee said that the tax placed an unfair burden on struggling high street retailers

The government must urgently examine alternatives to business rates instead of “sticking plasters” on a system in need of reform, a group of MPs has warned.

The Treasury select committee said that the tax placed an unfair burden on struggling high street retailers and that the system of reliefs was too bureaucratic and complex to function well. It called on the government to consider alternatives including a land value tax, an online sales levy or a profits tax.

Trade bodies welcomed the findings of the report. They have long called for extensive reform to the system, which they say unfairly penalises companies that need a presence in town centres.

“The business rates system is broken, causing businesses and investment to flatline. It is critical that