Non Domestic rates Liability

samkma

I closed my high street shop in Oct 2019 and council sent an invoice for £313 as final bill, that was paid in time. Yesterday I received a letter from council for legal proceedings to recover £1045 that I owe them! I am not aware of this outstanding amount. I just rang the department and they are claiming it to be a calculation error in 2019 and was not picked up as offices were closed due to covid for last 2 years.

The letter is addressed to the Ltd company - I have not wound up the business as I have less than £2000 (no other assests) worth stock that am slowing selling in retail online, my business bank account is overdrawn by £1800, just trying to pay it off and close everything as I have a full time job.

What is my liability to this debt? If they go ahead and take me to court will I be personally liable to this money?

Any help much appreciated.

Jeremy535897

You should read the following guidance:
https://businessdebtline.org/fact-sheet-library/business-rates-ew/

Their main site is here:
https://www.businessdebtline.org/

They don't charge. Get in touch with them.

In particular:

• I would think it unlikely that they can pursue you personally for the debt
• if the first notification of the amount due was the letter regarding legal proceedings, and you received no bill, then they are not following proper procedures

samkma

Jeremy535897 said:

You should read the following guidance:
https://businessdebtline.org/fact-sheet-library/business-rates-ew/

Their main site is here:
https://www.businessdebtline.org/

They don't charge. Get in touch with them.

In particular:

• I would think it unlikely that they can pursue you personally for the debt
• if the first notification of the amount due was the letter regarding legal proceedings, and you received no bill, then they are not following proper procedures

After chatting in detail to the business debt line they have advised all possibilities for my situation. As per their advise I spoke to the council and they have suspended the legal proceedings and put things on hold for 30 days and asked me to put in writing the current situation of the company, which I have done and are considering if they can write off the debt.

@Jeremy535897  Thanks for your input, much appreciated.