What happens if I don't pay my Business Rates?

We recognise that individuals and companies may struggle to pay their Business Rates liability. However, if you do not contact us and do not make payment in line with your bill, action will be taken to recover any money outstanding from you.

If you are the ratepayer for a property, you will be sent a Non-domestic rating (Business Rates) bill.

A bill will be sent to you when you first become liable, and every financial year that you remain liable. You will also be sent an amended bill if there are any changes e.g. a relief or exemption applies or has come to an end. Your bill will give you instalments to pay the amount due.

A Financial year runs from 1 April to 31 March. On an annual bill (sent in March for the following financial year) you will be given 10 statutory instalments (or 12 if requested). You will have less instalments if your become liable to pay part way through a financial year.

What happens if I don't pay?

If you do not pay in line with your bill, you will receive the following from us:

A Reminder

You will be sent a reminder to pay the amount that is overdue, including any amount that will become due within 7 days of the reminder being sent. The reminder will ask that the amount shown is paid within 7 days. If you pay the amount as instructed, your instalments will continue as normal.

I have received a Business Rates reminder

If you do not pay line with the instructions on your reminder, you will be sent...

A Summons

If we send you a summons, this means you have lost your right to pay by instalments and the full balance outstanding is due. This will be shown on the summons letter. Costs of £48.00 will also be added to your account. The summons will tell you that the Council is asking the Magistrates Court to award a Liability Order for non-payment of your Council Tax. The summons will confirm the date and time of the hearing. If you pay the amount stated, including the costs, no further action will be taken.

I have received a Business Rates Summons

If you do not pay line with the instructions on your Summons, you will be sent...

A Liability Order Notification

This letter is sent after the Liability Order hearing has taken place. If a Liability Order is granted by the Court, you will be sent a letter confirming this. Costs of £26.00 will be added to your account. You will also be sent an income and expenditure questionnaire asking you supply details about your financial circumstances, which you have a legal requirement to supply.

I have received a Business Rates Liability Order notification

What action can the Council take to recover unpaid Business Rates?

The award of a Liability Order gives the Council additional powers to recover unpaid Business Rates. This might include:

refer your account to Enforcement Agents who will visit your premises in order to remove your goods to cover the amount you owe
apply for your bankruptcy / liquidation
apply for you to be sent to prison

If the above action is necessary additional costs will be added to your account. In order to avoid this please contact the Business Rates Section immediately to discuss payment terms.

If you make an arrangement with us to pay the amount you owe and you pay as agreed, no further action will be taken against you. However, if you fail to pay the account in full, make alternative arrangements or fail to pay in line with an agreed arrangement, further action will be taken.

When will the Council use Enforcement Agents to recover unpaid Business Rates?

If a Liability Order has been obtained from the Court, we can instruct an Enforcement Agent to collect outstanding Business Rates debt. Further costs may be incurred and will be payable by you if your debt is referred to an Enforcement Agent. We will refer your debt if:

you have not completed and returned the income and expenditure form sent to you with your Liability Order notification,
you have not made, or maintained a repayment plan that you have agreed with us.

If you have arrears and are worried about your debt being referred to an Enforcement Agent, contact us immediately to discuss your payment options. Our staff will try to help agree a suitable payment plan with you. This will also avoid additional costs being incurred.

My debt has been passed to an Enforcement Agent

Are you having difficult paying your Business Rates?

If you are having problems paying your Business Rates bills, you should let us know as soon as possible.

Alternative payment arrangements can be discussed at any time. You do not have to wait until you are issued with a reminder notice or Magistrates Court Summons.

If you are experiencing problems paying your Business Rates account please contact the Business Rates Section immediately. All reasonable proposals will be considered, although we may need additional information regarding your financial situation before any arrangement is considered.

You are not legally obliged to provide this information but it will assist in calculating how much you can afford to pay.

Arrangements can be discussed with a member of staff on 01302 734454, option 2 or by completing the Income and Expenditure form below and returning it to us.

Business Rates Income & Expenditure form

Download (59KB)

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