Business and licensing

What business rates relief is

Applying for business rates relief can lower your business rates bill. You may be able to get a full or partial discount.

There is also transitional relief, which we automatically apply to some bills. Find out more about transitional reliefs (Scottish Government website).

Apply for business rates relief

Find out if you’re eligible and how to apply for business rates relief for your type of organisation.

How you can pay your business rates

Business rates payments are normally billed in 10 monthly instalments from May to February. They’re due on the 7th of each month.

You can pay:

• by Direct Debit
• online
• over the phone
• by bank transfer
• using PayPoint (including at post offices)
• by standing order
• by cheque or postal order
• in person at Renfrewshire House.

Pay by direct debit

Set up a direct debit, and we'll automatically take the payment from your account on or just after the 7th of each month.

Paying by direct debit can make your life easier, and it can help us save money.

To set up a direct debit, you'll need:

• the names of the account holders
• the bank or building society account number
• the branch sort code
• the name and full address of your bank or building society
• your business rates reference number (find it at the top of your most recent bill).

Fill in the form to set up a Direct Debit

Once you’ve filled in the form, post it to:

Director of Finance and Resources
Renfrewshire Council
Renfrewshire House
Business Rates
Cotton Street
Paisley
PA1 1AD

To change or cancel a Direct Debit, contact your bank or building society. You should also tell us by contacting us online.

Pay online

You can pay online with a debit or credit card.

To pay online, you'll need:

• your business rates reference number (find it at the top of your most recent bill)
• a debit or credit card
• the billing address for the debit or credit card.

Pay your business rates online

Pay over the phone

You can pay over the phone with a debit or credit card.

To pay over the phone, phone us on 0300 300 0300. You'll need:

• your business rates reference number (find it at the top of your most recent bill)
• a debit or credit card
• the billing address for the debit or credit card.

If phoning out of normal business hours, select the option for 'automated payments'. Any payments you make using this option will apply to the current tax year only.

Pay by bank transfer

You can pay your business rates by bank transfer.

Transfer your payment to:

Virgin Money
Paisley
PA1 1UW
Sort code: 82-54-04
Account number: 90000086

Here are our details for international payments:

• IBAN: GB29CLYD82540490000086
• BIC: CLYDGB21646

Use your business rates reference number (find it at the top of your most recent bill) as the payment reference.

Pay using PayPoint (including at post offices)

You can pay your business rates at places that display a PayPoint sign. This includes any UK post offices or shops that display the PayPoint sign.

Find your nearest PayPoint (PayPoint website).

You'll need your barcoded bill or a debit or credit card.

If paying at a post office, you cannot pay more than £999.99 at a time.

Pay by standing order

You can pay your business rates by setting up a standing order.

If you want to set up a standing order, or if you already pay by standing order and want to change it, phone us on 0300 300 0202. We’ll then send you a standing order form to fill in.

You can choose to pay across 10 or 12 monthly payments.

Pay by cheque or postal order

You can pay your business rates by sending us a cheque or postal order.

To pay by cheque or postal order, you'll need to:

• ensure the cheque is marked 'A/C payee only' (write it on the cheque if it's not printed on there already)
• make the cheque payable to ‘Renfrewshire Council’
• tell us your business rates reference number by writing it on your cheque or on a separate letter (find it at the top of your most recent bill)
• tell us what financial year your payment is for by writing it on your cheque or on a separate letter (such as 2025-26).

Send your cheque or postal order to:

Director of Finance and Resources
Renfrewshire House
Cotton Street
Paisley
PA1 1AD

In person at Renfrewshire House

You can pay your business rates in person at Renfrewshire House, the council’s headquarters:

Renfrewshire House
Cotton Street
Paisley
PA1 1AD

The opening hours are:

• Monday to Thursday – 8:45am to 4:45pm
• Friday – 8:45am to 3:55pm
• Saturday and Sunday – closed.

Go to the customer service reception area. There, you can pay your business rates using one of the kiosk machines.

Who must pay them

You’ll probably need to pay business rates if you use a building, or part of a building, for:

• business purposes
• other non-domestic purposes, such as education, social care, or waste management.

The Scottish Government has an online calculator for estimating your yearly business rates bill (mygov.scot website).

What you need to do

Find out how to:

• pay your business rates
• apply for business rates relief
• appeal a business rates decision
• pay your Business Improvement District (BID) levy for Paisley town centre
• register for e-billing for business rates
• tell us about a change of ownership for business rates
• tell us about a change of tenancy for business rates
• contact us about business rates.

General Transitional Relief

Your property's rateable value may have changed on 1 April 2026. We will have automatically awarded General Transitional Relief on your account where any increase in your gross bill is more than the maximum increases for 2026–27 listed below:

Find out how to appeal a business rates decision.

Business rates are a tax on non-domestic properties (buildings that people do not live in), such as:

• shops
• offices
• restaurants
• warehouses
• factories.

Find out how business rates are calculated (mygov.scot website).