How to Pay and Charges

Pay your business rates

You can:

• make a payment online
• by phone on 03300 576 170

24 hours a day, seven days a week.

 

We accept most major debit and credit cards.

The easiest, quickest, safest way to make payment on a regular basis is by direct debit.

If you choose to pay by direct debit, you can choose your payment dates and periods.

Direct Debit e-form

 

Standing order and bank transfers

To pay this way you will need your payment reference number. You can find this on your business rates bill or e-bill notification.

 

The Council’s bank details are:

sort code: 30-91-56
account number: 00465509

 

Refunds

Please complete this form to request a refund of overpaid Business Rates.

Refund request e-form

 

Business rates multiplier

We work out a rates bill by multiplying the rateable value of the property by the multiplier or 'poundage'. The Government sets this from 1 April each year for the whole of England.

The Government usually changes this every year in line with inflation.

See our business rates multiplier page

 

Rateable value

All relevant non-domestic property has a rateable value.

This is usually set by the valuation officers of the Valuation Office Agency (VOA). This is an agency of Her Majesty's Revenues & Customs.

The rateable value represents the yearly rent the property could have been let for on the open market, on a particular date.

The valuation officer must maintain the list of values. They may alter the value if the circumstances of the property have changed.

The ratepayer (and certain others who have an interest in the property) can also appeal against the value if they believe it is wrong.

Check the rateable value of your property.

 

Transitional arrangements

Transitional relief limits how much your bill can change each year because of revaluation.

This means changes to your bill are phased in gradually if you’re eligible.

You get transitional relief if your:

• property is in England,
• rates go up more than a certain amount,

We will adjust your bill automatically if you’re eligible.

How much your bill can change by from one year to the next depends on both:

• your property’s rateable value,
• whether your bill is increasing because of revaluation,

You stop getting transitional relief when your bill reaches the full amount set by a revaluation.

The business rates year is from 1 April to 31 March the following year.

View the changes to rateable value.