Rate bills will start to arrive with homes and businesses as bills are issued on the 5 April 2024.
The bill will set out the amount due for 2024/25, details of any rate relief which has been applied to your account and also any arrears from previous years that have not been paid.Â
A wide range of rate reliefs and entitlements are available, including support for those in receipt of Universal Credit through the Rate Rebate Scheme and a discount for pensioners who live on their own.Â
Land & Property Services (LPS) encourages anyone having difficulty paying rates to contact them for advice on the range of support available.
Full details can be found at www.nidirect.gov.uk/ratespayment
There are a number of ways to pay your rate bill. The most convenient ways are:Â
Direct Debit – this is the easiest and most convenient way to pay and it allows you to spread the cost over 10 monthly instalments. You can set up a Direct Debit online by visiting www.nidirect.gov.uk/services/set-direct-debit-online-rates
To pay your bill online visit www.nidirect.gov.uk/services/pay-your-rates-online
Pay at any Post Office or PayPoint.
Domestic ratepayers can receive 4% discount if they pay their 2024/25 rates in full on or before 10 May 2024.
Businesses may also be able to access a range of rate support schemes. More details can be found at www.nibusinessinfo.co.uk/content/help-available-business-rates
If you think the information on your bill is not correct, or if you have not received a bill, please contact LPS.
There are approximately 840,000 rateable domestic properties and around 75,000 non-domestic properties in Northern Ireland.Â
The average household rate bill in Northern Ireland is £1,180. Comparisons with average Council Tax bills in England, Scotland and Wales are not straightforward because the two systems are very different.
However, most households here pay less in rates in terms of average per dwelling than equivalent households in other parts of the UK pay in Council Tax.