Non-payment of business rates

Why have I been sent this summons?

Because you have missed one or more of your business rates payments. As a result, you have lost the right to pay your business rates by instalments, and the full outstanding balance is now payable.

Do I need to attend the Magistrates' Court?

No. You DO NOT need to attend the court on the day of the hearing, however we will still ask the court for a liability order if you fail to pay the amount in full.

How can I sort this out?

• Option 1: Pay the full amount that we have requested. This is the Total Amount Now Due figure on the summons. This amount includes the payments you have missed and the court costs for issuing the summons which you must pay. See how to pay business rates for more details. 
• Option 2: Phone us on 024 7683 2525 if you cannot pay the amount in full. We may be able to offer you a payment arrangement, but you must be willing to discuss your income and expenditure with us.                               
• Option 3: Email businessrates@coventry.gov.uk if you cannot pay the amount in full and tell us why. Again, we may be able to offer you a payment arrangement, but you must be willing to discuss your income and expenditure with us.    

* You must have completed one of the OPTIONS above BEFORE THE DAY of the hearing.

You should ONLY call us on the day of the hearing if we have been unable to resolve your query. You must call the phone line: 024 7683 3328 between the hours of 10:00am to 11:30am. This number will be very busy, and you may have to wait a long time before you get to speak to us.  

What will happen if I do not pay in full?

We will ask the Magistrates to issue a liability order against you. The liability order gives us various legal powers that we will use if you do not pay in full, fail to set up a payment arrangement or default on the payment arrangement that we may agree to.

These powers include:

• Sending your debt to an Enforcement Agent. You will incur an immediate charge of £75 rising to a minimum of £310 if the debt remains unpaid. Enforcement Agents may take your goods or vehicles and sell them.
• Start proceedings to make you bankrupt. This may result in you losing your home and/or your home.
• Start committal proceedings which could result in you being sent to prison.

I want to attend the Magistrates' court

The court will NOT admit you on the day of your hearing. If after speaking to the Council you still wish to go before the court, we will contact them to arrange a specific time and date for you to attend.