EMERGENCY legislation to allow rates to be collected is to be published today.
It is understood that this year's regional rate has been set at an increase of 1.7 per cent - the same rise as last year.
Rates bills are normally sent out to homes and businesses at the start of April. But the collapse of power-sharing and the ensuing political deadlock has meant the bills have been delayed.
Secretary of State James Brokenshire had promised to bring forward a bill at Westminster to allow a regional rate to be set so that bills can be issued.
He briefed the party leaders on the emergency legislation during separate talks at Stormont yesterday.
Local councils have already set the district rate. Bills are now due to be issued next month.
There had been fears than more than half a million households in the north could face a "significant hike" in their rates bills.
The last time the regional rate for Northern Ireland was struck in Westminster was for the draft budget of 2006-2008.
The then secretary of state, Peter Hain, announced a 19 per cent increase.
