Ratepayers to receive rate bills

Land & Property Services (LPS) is beginning to issue rate bills this week to homes and businesses in Northern Ireland.

The bill will set out the amount due for 2019/20, details of any rate relief which applies to your account and any debt from previous years that has not been paid.

Each domestic ratepayer will receive an information leaflet with their bill. This will highlight how the money collected will be invested in vital public services such as healthcare, education and roads as well as helping to fund Council services, including recreational facilities, building control, bin collection, tourism and local events.

Domestic ratepayers can receive 4% discount if they pay their bill in full on or before 10th May 2019.

A range of reliefs and entitlements are available to help ratepayers including Lone Pensioner Allowance, Rate Rebate and Landlord allowances. Full details can be found at www.nidirect.gov.uk/rates.

There are a number of ways to pay your rates bill:

• Direct Debit is the easiest and most convenient way and allows ratepayers to spread the cost over 10 instalments 
• Pay online
• Pay at any Post Office or PayPoint, by phone or in person at a LPS Customer Information Centre. Cash payments are no longer accepted at Customer Information Centres

If you think the information on your bill is incorrect or if you have not received a bill please contact Land & Property Services on 0300 200 7801.

Notes to editors: 

1. Following the legislation brought forward last month, there will be an inflation plus 3% rise in the regional domestic rate for 2019/20. Domestic rate bills are calculated by multiplying your rateable capital valuation by the domestic rate for your Council area. The domestic rate for your area is made up of the regional rate and the district rate. Local Councils set the district rate.

2. The regional rate element of Business or non-domestic rate bills will rise in line with inflation by 1.8%.  Small Business Rate Relief has been extended for the 2019/20 year and will be automatically applied to eligible non-domestic rate accounts. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/secretary-of-state-sets-out-draft-budget-for-northern-ireland

3. Further information and guidance on rates and the online payment facility is available on the www.nidirect.gov.uk/rates or for non-domestic customers, on www.nibusinessinfo.co.uk/content/business-rates.

4. 60% of ratepayers pay by Direct Debit and are able to spread the cost over 10 monthly instalments. You can set up a Direct Debit online at www.nidirect.gov.uk/set-up-a-direct-debit-online.

5. As of 31 March 2019, there were approximately 880,000 rateable properties in Northern Ireland.

6. The amount of rates collected for 2018/19 was just over £1.34 billion.

7. Customer Information Centres are located at Lanyon Plaza in Belfast, Academy House in Ballymena, Marlborough House in Craigavon, Waterside House in Londonderry and Boaz House in Omagh.  Please note that cash payments are no longer accepted at Customer Information Centres.

8. For media queries contact the Department of Finance Press Office on 028 9081 6724 or 028 9081 6895, email dof.pressoffice@finance-ni.gov.uk. Follow us on twitter @dptfinance. Out of office hours please contact the duty press officer on 028 9037 8110.

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