Business rates - ways to pay

Ways to pay

You can pay your business rates:

  • by Direct Debit
  • online
  • by BACS
  • by phone
  • in cash

Pay by Direct Debit

Direct Debit is the safest and easiest way to pay your business rates. Direct Debit will ensure that payments are made on time and for the right amount so you never forget to pay.

You don't need to renew your Direct Debit every year. Once you've set it up, it continues until you cancel it or payments are returned unpaid by your bank.

Your Direct Debit will create instalments for your Business Rates bill (it won't cover amounts due under enforcement action). You can choose which day of the month you would like the instalments to be taken, either the 1st, 8th, 16th, or 26th.

Payments in a full financial year may be made over 10 or 12 months, however fewer instalments will be given if you set up Direct Debit later in the financial year. 

If you have an existing Direct Debit in place, any new details submitted for the same account will replace the existing instruction. 

How to set up Direct Debit

To set up Direct Debit you need to:

  • have been issued a Business Rates bill
  • have a Business Rates account number
  • be authorised to set up Direct Debit payments from the bank account

How to apply

To apply to pay by Direct Debit online please use the following link;

Apply to pay by Direct Debit for Business Rates

Select 'Set up a new Direct Debit' from the menu.

You will need to provide, when completing the form, your Business Rates account number and your bank details including:

  • name(s) of account holder(s)
  • account number
  • sort code
  • bank or building society address 

Your bank will need 10 working days to set up the Direct Debit. When you are completing the form, if there are fewer than 10 working days until the next payment, the next payment may not be until the subsequent instalment date and therefore instalments may be larger.

What happens next?

Once the application is complete it will be processed, and confirmation sent to you.

To apply via the post;

Direct Debit form for business rates (PDF, 55KB)

Pay online

Use our online payment system to pay anytime, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Pay your business rates

We accept Switch, Delta, Solo, Visa or MasterCard.

By BACS

Payment can be made by BACS transfer to;

Folkestone & Hythe District Council

Account number: 47159227

Sort Code: 52-41-42

Quoting your business rates account number

By phone

Phone 01303 853 555 and use our 24-hour payment line. You can pay by most debit and credit cards.

Make sure you have your business rates account number to hand when you make a payment. 

Pay in cash

You can pay your business rates in cash at any shop or outlet showing the PayPoint sign or at any Post Office.

  • Take your demand notice with you each time you pay
  • If your payment is over £200 it's best to pay at the Post Office

The Post Office also accepts cheques (there is no charge for this).