What to do if you can't pay your business rates
Find out about the help available if you're having trouble paying your business rates, and what happens if you miss a payment.
If you're struggling to pay
Contact us as soon as possible to report a change, or if you're struggling to pay your business rates. We can change your payment date or arrange a payment plan to help you.
Business Rates Team
- 01273 291 981
- Contact the Business Rates Team
Contact the Business Rates Team if you have a question about your business rates, or disagree with a decision we've made.
You should also check if you can get:
- Small Business Rate Relief if your business property has a rateable value of £15,000 or less
- other business rates discounts - for example, if your business is a charity, a pub or a local newspaper
If you miss a payment
If you miss a payment, the following steps happen automatically:
- We'll send you a reminder within 12 days of a missed payment.
- If you don't respond to the reminder within 7 days, you'll get a court summons that includes extra costs of up to £100.
- If you still don't pay, the Magistrates' Court may give you a Liability Order with extra costs of £39.60, bringing the total costs to £139.60.
- Your debt is then passed to our enforcement team and could lead to further increased costs, removal of goods or business insolvency.