Get a late business invoice paid: rules, rates and letters
A client has not paid a business invoice. These guides show what EU and UK law let you claim (10,4% at the EU minimum, 11,75% in the UK, plus a fixed sum per invoice) and what to send, in which order.
The schedule in short
- 3 days after the due date: letter 1, a friendly reminder.
- 7 days later: letter 2, a firm reminder with a 7-day deadline.
- 7 days later: letter 3, a formal notice that claims statutory interest and the fixed compensation.
- 7 days later: letter 4, the final notice before further action.
- If the client replies that they cannot pay in full: letter 5, a payment plan offer.
Statutory rates now
| Rule | Rate per year | Source |
|---|---|---|
| EU minimum (ECB + 8) | 10,4% | Directive 2011/7/EU, Art. 2(6) |
| Germany (base rate + 9) | 10,52% | BGB § 288(2) |
| United Kingdom (base rate + 8) | 11,75% | gov.uk |
Rates for debts that became late in the current half-year. 15 EU countries have a checked rule. 12 are not checked yet and get no page here.
All guides
- EU late payment interest rate 2026: the B2B rule by country
EU minimum: ECB reference rate plus 8 points (10,4% now), EUR 40, table for all 27 countries. - UK late payment interest: 8% plus base rate (11,75% now)
UK: 8% plus base rate (11,75% now), GBP 40 / 70 / 100, base rate history. - Germany late payment interest: base rate + 9 (10,52% now)
Germany: Basiszinssatz plus 9 points (10,52% now), rates since 2024. - Late payment interest 10,4%: Ireland, Netherlands, Spain, Italy
8 countries on ECB plus 8 (10,4% now): Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Slovenia, Spain. - Late payment interest: Austria, Poland, Sweden and 3 more
Austria, Finland, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Sweden: rule and source per country. - EUR 40 late payment compensation: EU and UK fixed sums
Fixed compensation per late invoice: EUR 40 (EU), GBP 40 / 70 / 100 (UK). - How to calculate late payment interest (EU and UK formula)
The formula, step by step, with a worked example. - Friendly payment reminder email for an overdue invoice
Letter 1: friendly reminder, 3 days after the due date. Free. - Second payment reminder with a 7-day deadline: what to write
Letter 2: firm reminder with a 7-day deadline, 7 days after letter 1. - Formal notice letter claiming late payment interest
Letter 3: formal notice claiming interest and compensation, 14 days after letter 1. - Final notice before legal action: unpaid invoice letter
Letter 4: final notice before further action, 21 days after letter 1. - Payment plan offer letter for an unpaid invoice (3 instalments)
Letter 5: payment plan offer in 3 instalments, when they cannot pay in full.
Rates and sources as stored on 11 October 2026. Business-to-business debts only. Templates and calculations, not legal advice.