Business Rates

Annual Notification

Rates are paid on buildings that aren’t used as homes, commercial properties used by businesses, for example. The amount charged depends on the rateable value of the property. This is determined by the Assessor’s office in Kirkwall.

How to Pay

Your rates bill will tell you how much to pay and when the payments are due.

You can pay by:

• Direct Debit: Payments will be withdrawn from your bank account on the 15th day of the month. This is the way we’d prefer you to pay. You can download the following Direct Debit Instruction in Portable Document Format within the Related Downloads section of this page.
• Debit or Credit Card: To make a payment over the phone, please contact the Council offices on 01856 873535 extension 2905 or 2133 or Direct Dial 01856886322. You can do this between 09:00 and 17:00 Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday or 10:00 and 17:00 Wednesday
• By Post: Cheques should be crossed and made payable to Orkney Islands Council. Please write your name and address on the back of the cheque along with your Non-Domestic Rates reference number and send it to Customer Services, Orkney Islands Council, Council Offices, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1NY.
• Visit the Council Offices, Kirkwall, KW15 1NY (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday or Friday 09:00 to 17:00 hours and Wednesday 10:00 to 17:00 ) or the Warehouse Buildings, 2-12 Victoria Street, Stromness, KW16 3AA (Monday 09:15 to 19:00 hours, Tuesday to Friday 09:15 to 17:00 hours and Saturday 10:45 to 16:00 hours). Please take the bill along with you.
• On-line payments: You can pay by debit card by using the online payment facility.
• BACS: You can pay your rates by BACS. The Council's bank details are as follows: Bank - Royal Bank of Scotland, 1 Victoria Street, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1DP; Name of Account - Orkney Islands Council Rates Collection Account; Sort Code 83-24-07; Account Number - 00105675. You must quote your rates reference number and email your remittance to revenues@orkney.gov.uk

Further Information

For further information on rates, rateable value or rate discounts, please contact the Revenues team on telephone: 01856873535 extension 2133 or email.

Arrears

Payments must be made by the dates shown on your rates bill. If a final notice is issued you will be asked to make the payment within 14 days. Then, if no payment is received, we may be forced to take legal action.

Please contact us straight away if you’re having problems with a payment you owe us. We might be able to come to an arrangement for you to pay back the money without us having to take legal action.

Getting Help With Debt

If you’re having difficulties with other bills, you can get independent advice from the Citizens Advice Bureau, an external link to their website can be found in the Related Sites section of this page. Remember, it is never too late to seek advice.