The Aberdeen Business Improvement District (BID) was agreed by ballot in August 2011. All business properties in the designated BID area with a rateable value of £27,500 or over will pay a levy of 1% of the rateable value of the property. This levy is collected by Aberdeen City Council who then pass the total collected to the BID Company.
The BID area (or footprint) extends from Holburn Junction in the west to Castlegate/King Street in the east and from John Street in the north to Union Square in the south.
Although the BID levy is based on the rateable value of the property, it is a separate charge from business rates. This is why you have been sent a separate bill. Aberdeen City Council will collect the BID levy on behalf of the BID Company and will determine liability for the BID levy on current rating liability. For general payment enquiries or to amend details on your account, please contact the Council using the details shown on the front of this account.
To find out more about the Aberdeen BID please contact Aberdeen Inspired on 01224 566 291, email info@aberdeeninspired.com or visit Aberdeen Inspired.
How and where to pay
For all payments, please ensure you quote your customer account number.
Cheque payments: these should be sent to Aberdeen City Council, Business Hub 16, Marischal College Aberdeen AB10 1AB. Your cheque should be made payable to "Aberdeen City Council".
Direct Debit: if you already pay business rates by this method, we can also collect the BID levy by Direct Debit. You will still need to authorise us to do so by completing a separate Direct Debit instruction.
Please note that the BID levy cannot be collected by instalments.
BACS payments: electronic transfer may be made from your own bank account to Aberdeen City Council using the following details:
- Bank: VirginMoney
Branch: Aberdeen Principal
Account name: Aberdeen City Council
Sort Code: 82 60 11
Bank Account: 30009067
If you are paying from outside the UK, our IBAN number is GB68CLYD8260 1130 009067 and our SWIFT code is CLYDGB21350.
When to pay
The BID levy is payable in one instalment by the 28th of the month following issue of the account. Full or part payment may be made before that date but the total amount must be paid by the due date.
If the payment is not made by that date, we will send you a Final Notice. This will give you 14 days to pay the full sum.
If the Final Notice is not paid, we will apply to the Sheriff Court for a Summary Warrant. When granted, this will add a 10% penalty to the amount already due. We will then arrange for our collection agents to contact you. They will be responsible for collecting the amount due to the Council. You may also have to pay extra charges to our collection agents.
How we work out your BID levy
The BID levy is 1 percent of the rateable value of your property. This is consistent across the entire BID area apart from:
- If your property is vacant, a 50% reduction on the levy will apply;
- If your property is within a shopping mall, a 25% reduction will apply;
- Certain properties occupied by charitable or non-profit making organisations will also receive a reduction.
The BID Levy also uses the liable ratepayer as the person or organisation to whom the BID account is sent. We will also cross refer any changes to rating liability and the BID levy so that accounts are issued in the same name and based on the same property details. If you wish accounts to be sent to alternative names or addresses, please contact us as shown overleaf.
Incorrect information or changes to your details
If the information on the BID account is incorrect, please advise us immediately. We may ask you to provide information in writing.