guide-en.md

# Your Europe — Late payment

© European Union — European Commission / Your Europe
https://europa.eu/youreurope/business/finance-and-tax/making-receiving-payments/late-payment/index_en.htm

Captured 2026-09-14. Readable page text; HTML converted to text, interactive forms removed. Headings, prose and source links retained. This is guidance, not legislation.
Reuse: https://european-union.europa.eu/legal-notice_en

---

If your business has provided goods or services to a customer (in accordance with
                     the terms of the commercial contract) and you haven't received their payment by the
                     agreed deadline, you are entitled to receive
interest and compensation on the payment
you're owed.
This
applies to all your commercial transactions
with other businesses (including sole traders, providing that they are acting in
                     the course of their independent economic or professional activity) and public authorities.
Warning
These rules and those in the following steps
do not apply
:
in the case of insolvency proceedings (including proceedings aimed at debt restructuring)
to compensation payments for damages (for example by insurance companies)
Go directly to the
interest calculator
to see how much you are owed or choose your situation below.
I am owed money by
Another business
A public authority
A consumer
Another business owes me money
My business is based in an EU country and I am owed money from a business
operating in the same country as me
My business is based in an EU country and I am owed money from a business
operating in a different EU country than me.
A public authority owes me money
My business is based in an EU country and I am owed money from a public authority
operating in the same country as me.
My business is based in an EU country and I am owed money from a public authority
operating in a different EU country than me.
A consumer owes me money
You can't claim late payment interest in transactions with consumers. If you have
                     an issue with a consumer the above rules do not apply. For more information on issues
                     with consumers, see:
Contracts with consumers
Consumer guarantees
My business is based in an
EU country
and I am owed money from a business operating in the
same country
as me.
Calculate interest owed
If you have fulfilled your contractual and legal obligations and the client is responsible
                     for the delay (that is, it is not due to circumstances beyond their control) you are
                     entitled to claim interest for late payment and compensation for recovery costs.
When is interest due?
The interest is due from the day following the due date fixed in the contract.
If you
haven't fixed a payment period
in the contract, interest becomes automatically payable 30 calendar days after the
                     client receives your invoice or payment request.
If you
don't know when the invoice was received
, you can claim interest 30 calendar days after you delivered your service and/or
                     products.
If you send the invoice to your client before you deliver your service and/or product,
                     the countdown starts only after delivery.
How much interest should be added?
You can charge the interest rate for late payment as agreed in the contract. If no
                     rate was agreed, the statutory rate applies.
Statutory interest rates per country
Open
Close
EU country
01/07/2026 – 31/12/2026
Austria
10.73
Belgium
10.50
Bulgaria
10.15
Croatia
10.15
Cyprus
10.15
Czechia
11.75
Denmark
10.00
Estonia
10.40
Finland
10.50
France
12.40
Germany
10.52
Greece
10.15
Hungary
14.00
Ireland
10.40
Italy
10.15
Latvia
10.40
Lithuania
10.15
Luxembourg
10.15
Malta
10.40
Netherlands
10.15
Poland (health sector)
11.75
Poland (other public sectors)
13.75
Portugal
10.15
Romania
14.50
Slovakia
10.15
Slovenia
10.40
Spain
10.40
Sweden
10.00
Use our calculator to find out how much interest you're entitled to claim.
Compensation for recovery costs
In addition to the interest due
, you are entitled to claim a flat rate compensation fee of EUR 40 (or equivalent)
                     for each invoice paid late (in certain EU countries the amount may be higher, calculated
                     according to the value of the invoice).
If the costs you have incurred in recovering your debt exceed this value,
additional reasonable compensation can be claimed
(i.e. administrative costs, debt collection fees or costs to instruct a lawyer).
VAT
You charge interest on the gross amount of the debt (including VAT), but you do not
                     pay VAT on the interest.
How to recover your debt
Send an invoice to your customer including Interest and compensation fees.
Contact a national body that may be able to help you recover your debt.
Hire a debt collection agency.
Obtain an enforceable title from a
national court
.
My business is based in an
EU country
and I am owed money from a business operating in a
different
EU country
than me.
Contracts are governed by the law chosen by the parties involved. You should therefore
check which law governs your contract
.
If no specific choice was made when you signed the contract, the late payment rules
                     are governed by the law of the country where creditor has his habitual residence.
This rule is the same for both the sale of goods and the provision of services.
Warning
If your contract is governed by the laws of non-EU countries, the following rules
might not apply
.
Calculate interest owed
If you have fulfilled your contractual and legal obligations and the client is responsible
                     for the delay (that is, it is not due to circumstances beyond their control) you are
                     entitled to claim interest for late payment and compensation for recovery costs.
When is interest due?
The interest is due from the day following the due date fixed in the contract.
If you
haven't fixed a payment period
in the contract, interest becomes automatically payable 30 calendar days after the
                     client receives your invoice or payment request.
If you
don't know when the invoice was received
, you can claim interest 30 calendar days after you delivered your service and/or
                     products.
If you send the invoice to your client before you deliver your service and/or product,
                     the countdown starts only after delivery.
How much interest should be added?
You can charge the interest rate for late payment as agreed in the contract. If no
                     rate was agreed, the statutory rate applies.
Statutory interest rates per country
Open
Close
EU country
01/07/2026 – 31/12/2026
Austria
10.73
Belgium
10.50
Bulgaria
10.15
Croatia
10.15
Cyprus
10.15
Czechia
11.75
Denmark
10.00
Estonia
10.40
Finland
10.50
France
12.40
Germany
10.52
Greece
10.15
Hungary
14.00
Ireland
10.40
Italy
10.15
Latvia
10.40
Lithuania
10.15
Luxembourg
10.15
Malta
10.40
Netherlands
10.15
Poland (health sector)
11.75
Poland (other public sectors)
13.75
Portugal
10.15
Romania
14.50
Slovakia
10.15
Slovenia
10.40
Spain
10.40
Sweden
10.00
Use our calculator to find out how much interest you're entitled to claim.
Compensation for recovery costs
In addition to the interest due
, you are entitled to claim a flat rate compensation fee of EUR 40 (or equivalent)
                     for each invoice paid late (in certain EU countries the amount may be higher, calculated
                     according to the value of the invoice).
If the costs you have incurred in recovering your debt exceed this value,
additional reasonable compensation can be claimed
(i.e. administrative costs, debt collection fees or costs to instruct a lawyer).
How to recover your debt
Send an invoice to your customer including Interest and compensation fees.
Contact a local
Enterprise Europe Network partner.
Consult the
Guide to cross-border credit and claims management
.
Check whether one of the
EU regulations for cross-border debt recovery
could apply in your case.
Hire a debt collection agency.
My business is based in an
EU country
and I am owed money from a public authority operating in the
same country
as me.
Calculate interest owed
If you have fulfilled your contractual and legal obligations and the client is responsible
                     for the delay (that is, it is not due to circumstances beyond their control) you are
                     entitled to claim interest for late payment and compensation for recovery costs.
When is interest due?
The interest is due from the day following the due date fixed in the contract.
If you
haven't fixed a payment period
in the contract, interest becomes automatically payable 30 calendar days after the
                     client receives your invoice or payment request.
If you
don't know when the invoice was received
, you can claim interest 30 calendar days after you delivered your service and/or
                     products.
If you send the invoice to your client before you deliver your service and/or product,
                     the countdown starts only after delivery.
How much interest should be added?
You can charge the interest at the statutory rate.
Statutory interest rates per country
Open
Close
EU country
01/07/2026 – 31/12/2026
Austria
10.73
Belgium
10.50
Bulgaria
10.15
Croatia
10.15
Cyprus
10.15
Czechia
11.75
Denmark
10.00
Estonia
10.40
Finland
10.50
France
12.40
Germany
10.52
Greece
10.15
Hungary
14.00
Ireland
10.40
Italy
10.15
Latvia
10.40
Lithuania
10.15
Luxembourg
10.15
Malta
10.40
Netherlands
10.15
Poland (health sector)
11.75
Poland (other public sectors)
13.75
Portugal
10.15
Romania
14.50
Slovakia
10.15
Slovenia
10.40
Spain
10.40
Sweden
10.00
Use our calculator to find out how much interest you're entitled to claim.
Compensation for recovery costs
In addition to the interest due
, you are entitled to claim a flat rate compensation fee of EUR 40 (or equivalent)
                     for each invoice paid late (in certain EU countries the amount may be higher, calculated
                     according to the value of the invoice).
If the costs you have incurred in recovering your debt exceed this value,
additional reasonable compensation can be claimed
(i.e. administrative costs, debt collection fees or costs to instruct a lawyer).
How to recover your debt
Send an invoice to your customer including interest and compensation fees.
Contact a
national ombudsman
or a
national judge
.
N.B.
If payments from a public authority are systematically late, you can also
submit an official complaint
to the European Commission.
My business is based in an
EU country
and I am owed money from a public authority operating in a
different
EU country
than me.
Contracts are governed by the law chosen by the parties involved. You should therefore
check which law governs your contract
.
Calculate interest owed
If you have fulfilled your contractual and legal obligations and the client is responsible
                     for the delay (that is, it is not due to circumstances beyond their control) you are
                     entitled to claim interest for late payment and compensation for recovery costs.
When is interest due?
The interest is due from the day following the due date fixed in the contract.
If you
haven't fixed a payment period
in the contract, interest becomes automatically payable 30 calendar days after the
                     client receives your invoice or payment request.
If you
don't know when the invoice was received
, you can claim interest 30 calendar days after you delivered your service and/or
                     products.
If you send the invoice to your client before you deliver your service and/or product,
                     the countdown starts only after delivery.
How much interest should be added?
You can charge the interest at the statutory rate.
Statutory interest rates per country
Open
Close
EU country
01/07/2026 – 31/12/2026
Austria
10.73
Belgium
10.50
Bulgaria
10.15
Croatia
10.15
Cyprus
10.15
Czechia
11.75
Denmark
10.00
Estonia
10.40
Finland
10.50
France
12.40
Germany
10.52
Greece
10.15
Hungary
14.00
Ireland
10.40
Italy
10.15
Latvia
10.40
Lithuania
10.15
Luxembourg
10.15
Malta
10.40
Netherlands
10.15
Poland (health sector)
11.75
Poland (other public sectors)
13.75
Portugal
10.15
Romania
14.50
Slovakia
10.15
Slovenia
10.40
Spain
10.40
Sweden
10.00
Use our calculator to find out how much interest you're entitled to claim.
Compensation for recovery costs
In addition to the interest due
, you are entitled to claim a flat rate compensation fee of EUR 40 (or equivalent)
                     for each invoice paid late (in certain EU countries the amount may be higher, calculated
                     according to the value of the invoice).
If the costs you have incurred in recovering your debt exceed this value,
additional reasonable compensation can be claimed
(i.e. administrative costs, debt collection fees or costs to instruct a lawyer).
How to recover your debt
Send an invoice to your customer including interest and compensation fees.
Contact
Solvit
Open as an external link
.
N.B.
If payments from a public authority are systematically late, you can also
submit an official complaint
to the European Commission.
Interest calculator
Find out more about late payments in your country:
Choose country
Open
Close
Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria
Croatia
Cyprus
Czechia
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Ireland
Italy
Latvia
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Netherlands
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden

interest calculator: https://europa.eu#calculator

Another business: https://europa.eu#business

A public authority: https://europa.eu#authority

A consumer: https://europa.eu#consumer

operating in the same country as me: https://europa.eu#business-same-eu-country

operating in a different EU country than me.: https://europa.eu#business-other-eu-country

operating in the same country as me.: https://europa.eu#authority-same-eu-country

operating in a different EU country than me.: https://europa.eu#authority-other-eu-country

Contracts with consumers: https://europa.eu/youreurope/business/selling-in-eu/consumer-contracts-guarantees/consumer-contracts/index_en.htm

Consumer guarantees: https://europa.eu/youreurope/business/selling-in-eu/consumer-contracts-guarantees/consumer-guarantees/index_en.htm

Calculate interest owed: https://europa.eu#calculator

national court: https://online-forms.e-justice.europa.eu/online-forms/european-enforcement-order-forms_en?clang=en

Enterprise Europe Network partner.: https://een.ec.europa.eu/

Guide to cross-border credit and claims management: https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/3f507938-7bf7-4b22-a61b-9bac11703581

EU regulations for cross-border debt recovery: https://e-justice.europa.eu/topics/money-monetary-claims_en

national ombudsman: https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/european-network-of-ombudsmen/members/all-members

national judge: https://online-forms.e-justice.europa.eu/online-forms/european-enforcement-order-forms_en?clang=en

submit an official complaint: https://commission.europa.eu/about/contact/problems-and-complaints/complaints-about-breaches-eu-law-member-states/report-breach-eu-law-eu-country_en

Solvit Open as an external link: https://ec.europa.eu/eu-rights/enquiry-complaint-form/home?languageCode=en&origin=solvit-web-yeb

Austria: https://europa.eu/youreurope/search-results/index_en.htm?countryCode=AT&categories=J6

Belgium: https://europa.eu/youreurope/search-results/index_en.htm?countryCode=BE&categories=J6

Bulgaria: https://europa.eu/youreurope/search-results/index_en.htm?countryCode=BG&categories=J6

Croatia: https://europa.eu/youreurope/search-results/index_en.htm?countryCode=HR&categories=J6

Cyprus: https://europa.eu/youreurope/search-results/index_en.htm?countryCode=CY&categories=J6

Czechia: https://europa.eu/youreurope/search-results/index_en.htm?countryCode=CZ&categories=J6

Denmark: https://europa.eu/youreurope/search-results/index_en.htm?countryCode=DK&categories=J6

Estonia: https://europa.eu/youreurope/search-results/index_en.htm?countryCode=EE&categories=J6

Finland: https://europa.eu/youreurope/search-results/index_en.htm?countryCode=FI&categories=J6

France: https://europa.eu/youreurope/search-results/index_en.htm?countryCode=FR&categories=J6

Germany: https://europa.eu/youreurope/search-results/index_en.htm?countryCode=DE&categories=J6

Greece: https://europa.eu/youreurope/search-results/index_en.htm?countryCode=EL&categories=J6

Hungary: https://europa.eu/youreurope/search-results/index_en.htm?countryCode=HU&categories=J6

Ireland: https://europa.eu/youreurope/search-results/index_en.htm?countryCode=IE&categories=J6

Italy: https://europa.eu/youreurope/search-results/index_en.htm?countryCode=IT&categories=J6

Latvia: https://europa.eu/youreurope/search-results/index_en.htm?countryCode=LV&categories=J6

Lithuania: https://europa.eu/youreurope/search-results/index_en.htm?countryCode=LT&categories=J6

Luxembourg: https://europa.eu/youreurope/search-results/index_en.htm?countryCode=LU&categories=J6

Malta: https://europa.eu/youreurope/search-results/index_en.htm?countryCode=MT&categories=J6

Netherlands: https://europa.eu/youreurope/search-results/index_en.htm?countryCode=NL&categories=J6

Poland: https://europa.eu/youreurope/search-results/index_en.htm?countryCode=PL&categories=J6

Portugal: https://europa.eu/youreurope/search-results/index_en.htm?countryCode=PT&categories=J6

Romania: https://europa.eu/youreurope/search-results/index_en.htm?countryCode=RO&categories=J6

Slovakia: https://europa.eu/youreurope/search-results/index_en.htm?countryCode=SK&categories=J6

Slovenia: https://europa.eu/youreurope/search-results/index_en.htm?countryCode=SI&categories=J6

Spain: https://europa.eu/youreurope/search-results/index_en.htm?countryCode=ES&categories=J6

Sweden: https://europa.eu/youreurope/search-results/index_en.htm?countryCode=SE&categories=J6