If you do not pay your business rates, we’ll send you a reminder notice. If you still do not pay, we’ll issue a summons and take you to court. Find out how to pay your business rates bill.
What happens after a missed payment
If you miss a payment, we’ll send you a reminder notice.
If you pay within seven days, nothing else will happen.
If you bring your account up to date but then miss another payment in the same financial year, we’ll send you a final notice. This means you’ll lose the right to pay by instalments and must pay the full balance for the year.
If you don’t pay after the final notice, we’ll issue a summons and take you to court.
Summons and court hearing
Court costs will be added to your unpaid business rates.
You can avoid court if you pay the full amount on the summons (including court costs) before the hearing date.
At the hearing, we’ll ask the magistrate to issue a liability order. This gives us legal power to take further action against you to collect the unpaid amount. You don’t have to attend the hearing, but if you do, the magistrate will ask if you have a valid defence against the issue of the liability order.
If the liability order is granted, we’ll pass the debt to enforcement agents to collect the money you owe – this adds extra costs for you and your goods may be taken. If the enforcement agents don’t succeed, we can apply to the Magistrates Court to begin proceedings to make you bankrupt or liquidate your company – this also means more costs for you.
If you cannot pay the reminder
If you cannot pay, contact us immediately on 023 9268 8003 or at businessratesteam@portsmouthcc.gov.uk to discuss an alternative arrangement.
If you think your bill is wrong
If you think you’ve been charged wrongly, contact us at businessratesteam@portsmouthcc.gov.uk. Please don’t ignore the notice.
If you think you’ve paid
We count payment from the date we receive the money. Payments made by mail, banks, or the post office may take time to reach us. If you paid on time, email businessratesteam@portsmouthcc.gov.uk.
If you’ve moved or are moving
If you’ve moved or are moving, contact us immediately on 023 9268 8003 or at businessratesteam@portsmouthcc.gov.uk, and give us your new address.
If you’ve appealed your bill
You must continue to pay while your appeal is being considered. If your appeal is successful, we’ll adjust your bill and send you a refund if needed.
Contact us
If you have any questions, contact us on 023 9268 8003 or at businessratesteam@portsmouthcc.gov.uk.