Business rates.

[Traci66]

In September 2010 I closed my business down, at the time I was told I would be exempt from business rates for a year. January 2011 I received a letter telling me that this was no longer the case and I now had to pay business rates (at double what I was paying when I was in business because I no longer qualified for small business rate relief). At the beginning of April this year I sold all of the equipment from my shop and wrote to the valuation office telling them what I had done and my intention to turn the premises into a domestic garage. The VO wrote back to me saying that it will take several months for them to confirm this and so stop my business rates.

My question is, where do I stand with the council if I refuse to pay the rates before the VO come to their decision? TIA

[buildersmate]

You stand in hot water.
You should continue to pay the amount of the business rated levy until the Valuation Office come to a decision about any change. Then it will be back-dated.

[tonywiltshire]

The first thing to happen is that the LA will write to inform you that they intend to obtain a liability order in the Magistrates’ Court, which you do not need to attend unless you are not the person they claim is liable to pay business rates, when they have obtained the liability order and it is rather just a rubber stamping exercise, they will then send the debt to a debt collection agency/bailiffs to recover the debt.
The VOA should not take long to determine the correctness of your claim, so do as BM suggests and pay your business rates until they reach a decision, a refund may be due.

[HeadofRating_JF]

You should continue to pay business rates!
I would advise you seek professional advice from a Chartered Surveyor with Rating experience.
Make sure they are RICS accredited and will not charge any upfront fees.
Most decent Surveyors will give you free advice and then only take a fee if they save you cash.
@HeadofRating_JF

[factor-fiction]

I don't think you are supposed to include a link to your own company's website, john