Service Description: The Government has decided to put in place a business rates deferral scheme which will give you the option of spreading the Retail Price Index increase in your 2012-13 bill over three years, to help businesses manage their cash flow during the downturn. You will be able to defer payment of 3.2% of your 2012-13 bill – which is equivalent to 60% of the Retail Price Index increase - until 2013-14 and 2014-15. You will then pay back the total amount deferred over the next two years.
Answer: You do not automatically have the right to put off making any payments if you have already lost the right to pay your bill by instalments. You may still apply to put off making a payment, but it will be up to your local council to decide whether or not to approve this. You may also want to talk to your local council to discuss what other help is available.