What Happens if You Don't Pay Your Business Rates
Information on what happens if you don't pay your Business Rates and what to do if you are having difficulties paying
By law, you must make your Business Rates payments on or before the due date as detailed on your bill. If you do not pay as detailed on your bill you will be in arrears.
If you fall into arrears we will send you a statutory reminder notice requesting that you make the missed payment within seven days.
If you do not make the payment within seven days then, by law, you will lose your right to pay your remaining Business Rates for the year in instalments after another seven days.
The amount you owe for the rest of the year will then be due immediately and we will apply to the Sheriff Court for a 'summary warrant'. At this stage we will add statutory costs of 10% of the amount you owe to your bill.
If you are issued with a summary warrant you may end up having:
- your bank account 'frozen', which means you cannot use all the money in the account; or
- your goods taken away and sold at auction.
Important:
Please note that by law, only two reminders will be issued in the year. If, after a second reminder is issued, you bring your account up to date and then fall behind again no further reminders will be issued. At this point you will lose your right to pay your remaining Business Rates for the year by instalments and we will apply to the Sheriff Court for a summary warrant. At this stage we will add statutory costs of 10% of the amount you owe to your bill.
Having difficulties paying your Business Rates?
If you're having difficulties making your Business Rates payments or you're in arrears, please contact us using our details on this page so we can discuss your account with you.
