Business Rates - payments and advice

Introduction

Business Rates are normally payable by 10 monthly instalments, except closing or amended accounts or where instalments would be less than £50.00 each.

Business Rates are payable on the 1st of the month.

You can pay your Business Rates at a number of places and by various methods as detailed below.

Direct Debit

The safest and most convenient way for you to pay is by Direct Debit. Payments are paid for you automatically by your bank or building society. With Direct Debit, you are guaranteed an immediate refund in the unlikely event of a mistake being made. You can either download and print the attached form or telephone your bank details through to our office.

Direct Debit Mandate (pdf, 48 KB)

Online

You can pay your Business Rate online by going to the online payments page. Here you can choose to pay by credit card or by Girobank BillPay website. You will need your credit/debit card details and the first 11 digits of your Business Rate account number. Please note that there is a restriction of £5,000 per transaction via Girobank BillPay.

24 Hour Payment Line - 0870 707 7776

You can pay at any time of day or night by phoning our 24 hour payment line. You will need your Business Rate account number and payment card details. We accept Visa, Mastercard, Switch, Delta or Solo payment cards.

Please note that there is a 1.8% charge on all credit card payments.

Debit or Credit Card

You can pay by Switch or Delta, Visa or Mastercard. Either call 0117 922 3300 and give us your Business Rate account number and card details, or visit Phoenix Court Customer Service Point, Bond Street South, Bristol, BS1 3PH between 8.30am and 6.00pm Monday to Friday. Our Wednesday opening hours are 10am - 6pm.

Please note that there is a 1.8% charge on credit card payments.

Online Banking

Please quote sort code 57-71-47, Bank A/C no is 00000000. In the reference field, please quote your 11-digit business rate account number which is found on the top left of your business rate bill.

Customer Service Points

You can pay by cash, cheque or debit/credit card at any of Bristol City Council's customer service points. Click on this link for a list of the customer service points. Please take your bar coded Business Rates bill or payment card with you. If you pay by cheque, have you considered changing to Direct Debit?

Text Messaging Payments

You can make a payment from your mobile phone. To register to use this new service you will need your plastic payment card or the 19 digit number printed under the bar code on your bill. You will also need your credit/debit card.

Unfortunately, the system will only recognise your 19-digit payment card number if you have used it to make a payment at a Post office, PayPoint or Payzone outlet since 1 November 2006. If you experience any problems registering for this new service, please contact us on 0117 922 3300

Pay by text (external site)

Phoenix Court Customer Service Point

You can pay in cash, by cheque, or by debit or credit card if you come in to the Local Taxation Office. We are in Phoenix Court, Bond Street South, next to Cabot Circus. Office opening hours are Monday to Friday 8.30am to 6.00pm. Please note that our Wednesday opening hours are 10am to 6pm. Please bring your bar-coded bill or Payment Card with you.

Payment Cards

We are no longer issuing new payment cards, they are being replaced by bar coded documents. Payment cards already issued to valid account reference numbers will continue to work. You can use them at any Post Office or PayPoint outlet.

Payment Cards can be used at any Post Office or when paying at Phoenix Court Customer Service Point. Please ensure that you bring the card with you when making payments.

Post

Complete the payment slip and send it with your cheque or postal order to the Local Taxation Division, P.O. Box 968, Bristol, BS99 1ZG. Please make cheques payable to Bristol City Council and cross 'non-negotiable'. Please write your Business Rate account number on the front of the cheque in the top right hand corner. We do not normally issue receipts, so please ask if you would like one.

Payment Difficulties

If you have any difficulty paying your Business Rates please contact us immediately. We are happy to talk about the situation and discuss a short-term payment plan with you.