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What action the Council will take
if you do not pay on time
Business Rate Bills are issued annually. The usual
method of payment under Business Rate regulations is by 10 monthly
instalments, from April to January. This number will be reduced
where bills are produced later in the year. Business Ratepayers are
required to make their payments by the due dates shown on their
bills (under instalment plan) and it is essential that payments are
actually received by the Council on or before the due date. Where
payments are not received on time, action will begin to recover the
debt without delay.
The rules regarding the collection of Business
Rates is as follows. The first time that you fail to pay a Business
Rate instalment on time, you will be sent a reminder asking you to
bring your account up to date within a set time. If you do this you
can continue to pay by instalments;
If you fall behind with your payments again, a
second and last reminder will be issued requesting payment of
outstanding instalments within a set time. If you do this, as in
the case of a first reminder, you can still continue to pay by
monthly instalments;
Further non-payment will result in a final notice
being issued. This means that your right to pay by instalments is
withdrawn and the full amount outstanding on the notice must be
paid in full.
If you receive a reminder or final notice and you
do not pay the amount requested within the specified time period,
you will become liable to receive a summons to appear at Colchester
Magistrates Court. To prevent this you must contact the Business
Rate office to discuss your failure to pay and to make alternative
payment
arrangements, |