Business Rates

Committal to prison

If we are unable to recover Business Rates by alternative courses of action available to us, and you are a sole trader, we will apply to a Magistrates Court for a committal summons.

This is the first stage of possible imprisonment.

If you receive a committal summons, you should immediately:

Contact us
Get legal advice from a solicitor, your local law centre or Citizens Advice Bureau

If you pay in full, you do not need to go to court. If you do not pay in full, you must go to the court shown on the summons.

The Court Hearing

The court will assess your income and spending to decide whether you should go to prison. You must bring evidence of your income and spending to court if possible.

If you do not go to the hearing, the court will issue a warrant for your immediate arrest.

If you are arrested, you will be taken into custody where you will have to wait for your hearing.

These are very serious matters. Do not ignore the committal summons. Please contact us at the address shown immediately. If you do not contact us immediately, you may go to prison.