Paying your Business Rates
Please note that Business Rates are payable over ten
months, from 1 April to
1 January.
Full details of your payment instalments are shown on
your latest Business Rates bill.
Paying by direct debit
If you are currently paying by direct debit – thank you.
As part of a continuous campaign to keep charges as low as
possible, Harlow Council would like to thank you for paying your
Business Rates by direct debit, the most cost effective means of
payment available.
You have recognised the many advantages offered by the direct
debit scheme (for example it is the only payment scheme offering a
guaranteed refund in the unlikely event of an error).
To avoid the extra expense of setting up new payment
arrangements at the beginning of the next financial year,
it is important that the current instructions are not
cancelled when the final instalment has been collected this
year.
If you would like to start paying by direct debit
Direct debit remains the cheapest and most convenient method of
paying Business Rates. With this method payments can
be made on the 1st or the 15th of the month automatically. The
advantages and safeguards of paying by direct debit are:
- Payment dates are not overlooked
- No need to write out cheques
- No unnecessary trips to the Post Office, bank or elsewhere
- Budgeting and cash flow can be planned effectively
- No need to complete a new instruction each year
- If an error does occur, you will be reimbursed immediately and
without question by your bank
- Any variations to amounts and / or payment dates will be
notified in advance, allowing time for you to respond
If you wish to take advantage of this payment method, please
call the Business Rates Office on (01279) 446237 between 9AM-5PM
Monday to Friday and your direct debit will be set up over the
phone. Please have your bank account details to hand when you
call. Or you can complete a direct debit form and retrun
it to us by post. To do this please follow this link to print off a
Direct Debit form (.pdf file 56kb).
(You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view and print off this
form. Follow this
link if you need to download Adobe Acrobat Reader).
For peace of mind you are assured that we will always send you
a bill showing your instalment amounts and due dates at least 14
days before payment is requested from your bank.
Paying by credit / debit card
Please note that with effect from 1st April 2009 there will be
a charge of 2% against all credit card transactions for Business
Rates.
Paying by standing order
If you are already paying by standing order please make sure
that your bank is making payments to Harlow Council’s bank that
match the instalments shown on your latest Business
Rates bill.
If you would like to pay by standing order please contact your
bank with your Business Rates account reference and
Harlow Council’s bank sort code (089004) and bank account number
(61057746).
Please note this bank account is only used for
paying Business Rates, and it should not be used for any other
types of payment (eg Rent).
Paying by cash
You can pay cash in person at Contact Harlow. You must
quote your Business Rates account reference when paying.
If you require a receipt please request one at the time of
payment.
Important! Do not send cash through the
post!
Paying by cheque
Make cheques payable to Harlow
Council and ensure you quote the Business
Rates account reference on the back.
You can send your cheque to:
Revenues and Benefits
Civic Centre
The Water Gardens
College Square
Harlow
Essex
CM20 1WG
Please do not send post-dated cheques as we do not
accept them.
Alternatively, you can pay cheques in person at Contact
Harlow.
Where to pay your Business Rates
Contact Harlow
Harlow Council
Civic Centre
The Water Gardens
Harlow
Essex
Opening Times
Monday to Friday:
9am to 4.45pm
Telephone: 01279 446655
Minicom: 01279 446833.