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Pay your business rates
Find out how to pay your business rates, including online, by direct debit, by phone or by bank transfer, and what happens if you do not pay.
It is your responsibility to ensure the payment reaches us in time:
- you should allow four working days for the Council to receive payment
- please have your bill to hand when paying, if you give the wrong account number your payment may be delayed or not reach us at all
- if your bank declines the payment, we will not be able to tell you that the payment has been refused so please check the payment has left your account
- if your bank refuses the payment you'll need to follow up and pay by another method or sort out the issue
- please keep any receipts you receive as proof of the payment
Ways to pay
Online
You can pay your business rates by debit or credit card using MasterCard, Visa, Visa Debit, and Maestro
Direct debit
Direct debit is the easiest way to pay your business rates.
- Monthly payments begin on 1 April and are due on the first day of each subsequent month.
- Half-yearly payments are due on 1 April and 1 September.
- Yearly payments are due on 1 April.
Download a Direct Debit Instruction Form
If you want to set up a Direct Debit for your business rates, download, complete and return the instruction form. Have your bill to hand as you will need to know your account number. If your direct debit is submitted between 1 March and 1 April, it will not be set up in time to collect the 1 April instalment. We will advise you of your revised payment plan in accordance with the direct debit guarantee.
24-hour phone line
You need a touch-tone phone to use the service. You can pay by debit or credit card using Mastercard, Visa, Visa Debit and Maestro. You will need your account number so have your bill to hand.
Follow the voice prompts and enter payment and card details via your telephone keypad.
Please call 0345 359 1111
Set up a standing order or pay by BACS
Our bank account details
- The Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames
- Lloyds Bank
- Sort code 30-80-12
- Account number 14717168
If setting up a standing order you will need to complete the standing order forms from your bank. Always quote your business rates account number shown on your bill when making a payment or setting up a standing order.
If paying by BACS the business rates account number should be quoted as your reference and a remittance advice should be emailed to cashiers@kingston.gov.uk.
View your bill online
Managing your Business Rates online is quick and easy.
Register online to:
- check your balance
- choose to receive your bill by email
- check how many instalments you have left
- see what payments you have made
- download a copy of your latest bill
Register, or log in, to view your Business Rates account
How to register
If you have multiple properties or accounts you only need to register once to see all of them.
You will need:
- your name or company name, exactly as it appears on your Business Rates bill
- the Business Rates account number
- the answer to two of the four security questions which are:
- the postcode of the property
- a phone number connected to the Business Rates account
- the online reference code from your most recent Business Rates demand notice or, if you pay by direct debit, the bank account number
Sign up for Business Rates e-billing
Rather than receiving a paper copy of your bill through the post you can opt to receive email notifications when you are billed. This helps us to reduce the amount of paper we use, reducing costs and protecting the environment.
- once you have registered to view your account online
- you can update your account details to say yes to paperless billing.
Local authority maintained schools
Business rates for Local Authority maintained schools and academies are paid directly to the Council by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA). These schools are no longer billed directly for their business rates. Schools can still go online to view their rate account and check the balance of their account.
What happens if you don't pay your business rates
Instalment payments are due on or before the due date shown on the bill. If the payment is late, the recovery cycle will start:
- On the first occasion that an instalment is missed a reminder notice will be issued. If, following receipt of a notice, your instalments are not brought completely up-to-date, a summons may be issued for hearing at the Magistrates' Court. In this event you may be liable for legal costs, which may be substantial.
- If notices are issued on any two occasions during the financial year and a third default occurs, even though instalments may have been brought up-to-date each time, the right to pay by instalments will be lost and the full balance will become payable and may be recovered by issuing a summons for the hearing at the Magistrates' Court (as above).
- Where payment of the outstanding rates, together with costs, is not received before the date of the hearing, the Magistrates may grant the Council a liability order and additional costs will be awarded.
- If a suitable arrangement is not made when the liability order is granted, the Council will take steps to recover the outstanding debt. This may involve the use of bailiffs which would incur additional and substantial costs.