As a business owner, getting paid on time is essential to maintain a healthy cashflow.
Unfortunately, late payments can cause a financial strain on your business. This is where late payment interest and compensation come into play.
In this article, we’ll demystify late payment regulations and explain how you can calculate late payment interest and compensation effectively.
Top tip: You can use our late invoice payment calculator, you don’t even need to sign up.
Late payment interest is the interest charged on an outstanding invoice, and compensation is the additional sum you can charge for the inconvenience caused by late payment.
As a business owner, dealing with late payments can be frustrating and time-consuming. Late payments create cashflow problems and affect your ability to pay your own bills on time.
Calculating late payment interest can seem complicated, but it’s relatively simple if you know the formula. The current late payment interest rate is 8% plus the Bank of England base rate. The Bank of England base rate is currently 0.1%, bringing the total interest rate to 8.1%. To calculate the interest owed, take the amount owed and multiply it by the interest rate.
For example, if you have an invoice of £1,000 that is 30 days overdue, the interest owed would be £8.20.
It’s important to note that you can only charge interest after the payment becomes overdue, and it’s your responsibility to inform the debtor of the interest rate you intend to charge. You can include the interest rate in your payment terms or send a separate notice.
It’s worth noting that charging interest on late payments can also act as a deterrent for future late payments. If your clients know that they will be charged interest on late payments, they may be more likely to pay on time in the future.
The Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 governs late payment compensation. The act states that you can charge a fixed sum of £40 to £100 per invoice, depending on the value of the invoice. Additionally, you can charge reasonable debt recovery costs if the debtor fails to pay within the agreed period.
It’s important to remember that compensation is not the same as interest. Compensation is an additional sum that you can charge to cover the administrative costs of chasing late payments. This can include the cost of sending reminder letters or making phone calls to follow up on late payments.
To charge compensation, you must include it in your payment terms or give notice in writing. The notice must state the amount of compensation you intend to charge and when you will charge it.
It’s worth noting that charging compensation on late payments can also act as a deterrent for future late payments. If your clients know that they will be charged compensation on late payments, they may be more likely to pay on time in the future.
You can charge interest and compensation on commercial debts owed by another business or public authority. This means that the transactions must be between businesses (B2B) or involve a public sector body. However, you cannot charge interest or compensation on invoices issued to individual consumers (B2C transactions).
The debtor has 30 days to pay from the invoice date or from the date of receipt of goods or services, whichever is later. This 30-day period is a standard grace period defined by the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998. After this period, you are entitled to charge both interest and compensation on the overdue amount.
If the debtor disputes the invoice in good faith, you cannot charge interest or compensation until the dispute is resolved. It is important to handle disputes promptly and document all communications and resolutions to ensure transparency and fairness.
No, it’s up to you to decide whether to charge interest and compensation. However, charging them can help cover the administrative costs associated with chasing late payments and may deter future late payments by signaling to clients that timely payment is important to your business.
Interest on late payments is calculated at 8% above the Bank of England base rate. This interest is simple interest, not compound, and it is calculated on the overdue amount from the date the invoice becomes overdue until it is paid.
You can charge a fixed sum as compensation per invoice, depending on the value of the invoice:
Additionally, you can charge reasonable costs incurred in recovering the debt if they exceed the fixed sum compensation.
Reasonable debt recovery costs can include expenses directly related to chasing the late payment, such as the cost of sending reminder letters, making phone calls, or employing a debt collection agency. These costs must be justifiable and proportionate to the effort required to recover the debt.
Yes, to charge compensation and interest, you must include these terms in your payment conditions or provide written notice to your clients. The notice must clearly state the amount of compensation and interest you intend to charge and when these charges will apply.
Yes, you have the discretion to waive the interest and compensation, either partially or fully, if you believe it will benefit your business relationship with the debtor. However, it’s important to consider the impact of waiving these charges on your cash flow and overall financial health.
If the debtor continues to delay payment even after interest and compensation have been applied, you may need to escalate the matter. This could involve engaging a debt collection agency or pursuing legal action through the courts. Ensure that all steps taken are documented and that you have followed all legal procedures.
Charging interest and compensation can help cover the costs associated with late payments, such as administrative and recovery expenses. It also serves as a deterrent, encouraging clients to pay on time to avoid additional charges. This can improve your cash flow and reduce the time and resources spent on chasing overdue payments.
| Date Changed | Rate |
| 07 Nov 24 | 4.75 |
| 01 Aug 24 | 5.00 |
| 03 Aug 23 | 5.25 |
| 22 Jun 23 | 5.00 |
| 11 May 23 | 4.50 |
| 23 Mar 23 | 4.25 |
| 02 Feb 23 | 4.00 |
| 15 Dec 22 | 3.50 |
| 03 Nov 22 | 3.00 |
| 22 Sep 22 | 2.25 |
| 04 Aug 22 | 1.75 |
| 16 Jun 22 | 1.25 |
| 05 May 22 | 1.00 |
| 17 Mar 22 | 0.75 |
| 03 Feb 22 | 0.50 |
| 16 Dec 21 | 0.25 |
| 19 Mar 20 | 0.10 |
| 11 Mar 20 | 0.25 |
| 02 Aug 18 | 0.75 |
| 02 Nov 17 | 0.50 |
Late payment interest and compensation can seem daunting, but they are essential tools to mitigate the financial losses that late payments can cause. By following the legal framework for charging interest and compensation and keeping track of your unpaid invoices, you can ensure timely payment and healthy cashflow for your business.
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