If you don't pay your Business Rates on time we will send you a Reminder. If you pay the reminder straight away you can continue paying in instalments.
If you don't pay the Reminder straight away, or you don't pay any remaining instalments on time, the rest of the years charge will be due and you will have to pay it in full. We will send you a Court Summons for non payment of Business Rates including costs.
If you receive a Court Summons and pay the balance in full including the costs, no further action will be taken. If you can't pay in full we may be able to make an arrangement with you to pay in instalments if you contact us at this stage.
At the court hearing we will ask the Magistrates for a Liability Order for the full amount you owe plus additional costs. If you agree that you owe the amount, you do not have to attend the court hearing. If you go to the court hearing, the Magistrates will ask if you have a valid defence to stop the Liability Order being granted. If you are planning to attend the court hearing please contact us as soon as possible.
If the Liability Order is granted by the Magistrates it allows the Council to use other methods to collect the money you owe such as use of Enforcement Agents (formally called Bailiffs), insolvency action or bankruptcy proceedings.
We recommend you contact us as soon as possible if you fall behind with any of your instalments.