Land & Property Services (LPS) has announced a delay in the issuing of rates bills for 2017/2018.

Normally at the beginning of April each year, LPS issues annual rates bills to homes and businesses across Northern Ireland and this year bills will be late due to the delay in the setting of the Regional Rate.

From the end of this week, LPS will be issuing a letter to every rate payer about the delay and providing advice and further information.

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The LPS has informed all Councils that they are putting plans in place to allow bills to be issued in May 2017, giving ratepayers the choice of making payment by the usual ten installments and to avail of the early payment discount as appropriate. The bill will cover rates assessed from 01 April 2017 to 31 March 2018, as well as any unpaid rates from previous years.

If a ratepayer normally pays by Direct Debit they don't need to do anything as no direct debit payments will be taken until a new bill is issued. If a ratepayer normally pays by Standing Order/online/cheque, LPS is urging ratepayers to make a payment based on last year's assessment.

(CD/LM)