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How You Can Pay Your Bill

You can pay your rate bill

How ever you choose to pay your rate bill, you should allow 5 working days for any payment to reach your rate account.

If you are not able to pay your rate bill, please contact us immediately. We are always willing to listen and, after considering your financial circumstances, we will try to come to an acceptable payment agreement with you. We will keep any information you discuss with us confidential.

Paying by direct debit

Paying by direct debit is easy and can help to spread the cost of your rate bill. Almost 50% of ratepayers in Northern Ireland already choose this method of payment. You can choose to pay your bill in one full payment or by instalments. We now offer three collection dates per month, the 7th, 15th or last banking day of the month. To sign up, you can:

  • fill in and return the form attached to your bill
  • phone our helpline on 101, minicom 18001101(the alternative number for those calling from outside Northern Ireland or who are unable to access the 101 service is 02891 513101)
  • you can fax our Direct Debit team - 02890 - 252669
  • you can email our Direct Debit team directdebit.rating@lpsni.gov.uk (opens in new window)
  • you can download a direct debit application form (opens in new window PDF 84KB)  which you can then print, complete and return to your local Land & Property Services (Rating Services) Office. Please use the following link to find you local LPS office: LPS rating offices
  • you can write to our Direct Debit Team:-
    Land & Property Services,
    Direct Debit Team,
    Room 506,
    Londonderry House,
    21 - 27 Chichester Street,
    TOWN PARKS,
    Belfast.
    BT1 4JB

If you pay by direct debit

  • you will usually make 10 monthly payments (although you can also choose to pay your bill in full in one payment by direct debit);
  • we may round up your rates in the first month, which means that the first payment may be higher; and
  • details of your payment plan will be shown on the back of your rate bill.

More information on direct debit (opens in new window PDF 115 KB) is also available

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Paying at a local shop or garage which displays the Payzone network logo

You can now pay by rate payment card at a local store which displays the Payzone network logo. There are 822 outlets providing this facility throughout NI including garages, newsagents and stores such as Centra, Mace, Spar and Vivo.

You will need a rate payment card to pay at Payzone

Rate Payment Cards

Rate payment cards can be ordered by phoning the LPS helpline on 101 or Minicom 18001101

You should allow 5 working days for any payment to reach your rate account

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Paying at a local Post Office

You can pay by a single payment or by monthly instalments using a rate payment card, which can be ordered from the helpline on 101 or minicom 18001101

Or, you can pay by cheque or cash using the giro bank slip attached to your bill. You should make cheques payable to ‘Post Office Ltd’.

Please allow five working days for your payment to reach your rate account.

Paying at a bank or building society

When paying at a bank or building society, take your bill with you, use the giro bank slip provided, and make sure that you make the payment to our bank giro account number 71063200, sort code 95-01-21.

When paying by telebanking or using the Internet, please use Rate Collection account number 71063200 and sort code 95-01-21.

You must quote your 16 digit account ID and ratepayer ID with the zeros at the beginning and no breaks or dashes (for example, 0012345600450789). If you don’t, we will not be able to allocate your payment to your account, and we may issue a reminder for payment.

Please allow five working days for your payment to reach your rate account.

Some banks or building societies may charge a fee.

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Paying by standing order

When setting up a standing order, please use our bank giro account number 71063200, sort code 95-01-21. You must quote your full account ID number and your ratepayer ID number with the zeros at the beginning and no breaks or dashes (for example, 0012345600450789).

Paying by cheque

  • Make your cheque payable to "Land & Property Services
  • Cross it "Rate Account" and send it along with the payment slip on your your bill to the address shown at the top of your bill
  • Clearly print  the address of the property, your account ID number and your ratepayer ID number on the back of the cheque. (These numbers are shown at the top right-hand corner of your rate bill). A receipt will not be issued unless you provide a stamped addressed envelope
  • Take your completed cheque with the ratepayer and account details printed clearly on the back, to any Land & Property Services rating office. Other LPS offices do not have the facilities to process payments. A receipt will not be issued unless you provide a stamped addressed envelope. You can find LPS rating offices by using the following link below: LPS rating offices

However you decide to pay, you can choose to pay by instalments or one single payment.

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Important Customer Notice for customers paying by cheque

There will be a delay in processing cheques received between Tuesday 20th October and Monday 26th October, due to a planned upgrade to the system.

You may wish to consider an alternative payment method during this period.

Paying by instalments (other than by direct debit)

If you are not already paying by instalments, and you want to do so, please contact your regional rate office.

Remember that you will need to allow five working days for payments to reach your rate account.

Making a single payment for the full amount

No matter how you choose to pay your rates, you may make one single payment for the full amount.

Discount

If you are paying rates on a domestic property in full in one amount before the discount date shown on your bill, you will get a discount on the amount due for that rating period.  The discounted amount will be shown on your bill.

If you are paying in full for a property which has a mixed use (for example a shop (non-domestic) with a flat (domestic) above it) you will receive the discount only on the domestic part of your bill.

However you pay your bill, please make sure that you provide all the necessary information. If you don’t, we may not be able to lodge your payment to the correct rate account, which means that the balance will stay outstanding.

You must allow five working days for your payment to reach your rate account.

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