NIIRTA Concerned At No Tax Breaks In Autumn Budget To Ease National Living Wage

The Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association (NIIRTA) has described the Autumn Statement by the Chancellor as ‘disappointing’ as it contained no new tax breaks to help small traders afford the National Living Wage. NIIRTA Chief Executive Glyn Roberts said: “This Autumn Statement is a missed opportunity to support small traders with tax relief to help them afford the proposed National Living Wage, which will result in a 40% increase in the wages’ bills for our members. “How does the Treasury expect struggling small business owners to afford the National Living Wage by 2020? “It is welcome that the Chancellor has done a u-turn on cuts on Tax Credits which would have had a serious impact on the spending power of working families in Northern Ireland. “Also positive is the additional funding on infrastructure and new air-routes for Northern Ireland.”