Billing, collection and recovery of the Uniform Business Rate is governed by the Local Government Finance Act 1988.  At the beginning of each financial year, every ratepayer is entitled to pay their charge over 10 monthly instalments and the council sets the date by when payments should be made.  The instalment date is the 2nd of each month.

There are a number of ways you can pay your business rate:

• Direct Debit
  This is the Council's preferred method of payment as it is the most cost effective.  It is collected on the 2nd of the month, or the nearest working day if the 2nd falls on a weekend or Bank Holiday.
  Download and print a Direct Debit form [PDF] (19k) or telephone 01483 444872 to request a form.  Please return the form to the address below.
  
  
• Standing Order or Bacs transfer
  The council's bank is HSBC.  The sort code is 40-22-26 and bank account number 21850652.  Please remember to quote your 10 digit business rate account number.
  
  
• Online - visit our online payment page.
  
  
• Telephone - call 01483 444455 to use the automated telephone payment system.  You can use your debit/credit card.  An additional fee is charged for all credit card payments.
  
  
• In banks.
  
  
• In post offices (subject to a fee).
  
  
• In building societies
  
  
• Post - send your cheque, made payable to Guildford Borough Council, to the address at the bottom of this page.  Please write your 10 digit business rate account number on the back of the cheque.  It is not advisable to send cash through the post.
  

What happens if I don't pay?
You must pay your business rate bill, even if you have appealed against your property's rateable value.  If payment is not made according to the bill, the council is required to take recovery action.

The recovery procedure is that a reminder notice is issued if a payment is missed.  Only one reminder per year is required to be issued.

If payment is still not made, a summons will be issued.

If payment is made, but another is missed in the same year, a further (cancellation) notice will be issued.  At that stage, you will lose your right to pay by instalments.

A summons for non-payment will be issued if payment is not made within two weeks following the issue of a reminder notice, or if payment in full is not made one week from the issue of a cancellation notice.

Business Rates
Revenue and Payments Services
Guildford Borough Council
Millmead House
Millmead
Guildford
GU2 4BB

Tel: 01483 444872
Fax: 01483 444866
Email: brates@guildford.gov.uk