Help with business rates

If you are having problems paying your business rates it is important that you contact us as soon as possible. 

We will work with you to try and agree an affordable payment arrangement. We can also advise you on any relief from rates to which you may be entitled and how to appeal against the rateable value of your property.

If you think the rateable value is too high, you can appeal your rateable value with the Valuation Office Agency (VOA).

If you do not pay your rates and do not contact us we may have to take recovery action against you, which may increase the amount that you have to pay.

You can also find comprehensive and impartial advice from Business Link, the official government website for business.

If you have several creditors and need help dealing with them, you can get further advice from the Business Debtline by calling 0800 197 6026.

If you do not pay your business rates

We will send a reminder if you have not paid the instalments as requested on your bill.

If you cannot afford to pay the amount required to bring your instalments up to date, please contact us as it may be possible to make alternative payment arrangements.

The best way to be sure instalments are paid on time is by setting up a direct debit.

Court summons

If you do not pay every month and a summons is issued, you have lost the right to pay by instalments and the full amount outstanding for the year becomes payable immediately.

If you receive a court summons, this means that we have applied to the magistrates’ court for the legal power to take further action against you to recover unpaid business rates payments. At the hearing we will ask the court to grant us a liability order. This will allow us to recover your debt in a variety of ways.

You should contact us at least 48 hours before the hearing date if you want to contest the liability order being made to allow any arrangements to be made with the court.

After a court hearing

If you do not pay in full, a liability order gives us the power to:

  • instruct enforcement agents (bailiffs)
  • commence bankruptcy proceedings
  • request information from you concerning your personal circumstances

Contact us

Email

business.rates@leeds.gov.uk

Phone

0113 376 0359
(Monday to Friday, 9am and 1pm)

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