# Late payment interest calculator

> Free statutory late payment interest calculator for unpaid business invoices: UK Late Payment Act (11.75% in 2026), Germany § 288 BGB and the EU directive minimum, plus fixed compensation.

Canonical page: https://superbooks.io/tools/late-payment-interest-calculator/

GET https://app.superbooks.io/api/tools/late-payment?jurisdiction=uk&amount=1000&due=2026-03-01&paid=2026-04-20

## The rules and rates

Last checked 21 October 2026.

- United Kingdom: 8% a year over the Bank of England base rate in force on the 31 December or 30 June before interest starts to run, fixed for the life of the debt. From 2026-01-01: Bank of England base rate 3.75%, so 11.75%. From 2026-07-01: Bank of England base rate 3.75%, so 11.75%. Law: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2002/1675/article/4/made. Reference rate: https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/boeapps/database/Bank-Rate.asp.
- Germany: 9 percentage points over the Bundesbank base rate (Basiszinssatz), which is reset on 1 January and 1 July, plus a flat €40. From 2026-01-01: Bundesbank base rate (Basiszinssatz) 1.27%, so 10.27%. From 2026-07-01: Bundesbank base rate (Basiszinssatz) 1.52%, so 10.52%. Law: https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bgb/__288.html. Reference rate: https://www.bundesbank.de/de/bundesbank/organisation/agb-und-regelungen/basiszinssatz-607820.
- EU Late Payment Directive (minimum): At least 8 percentage points over the ECB main refinancing rate on the first day of each half-year, plus at least €40. Each member state's own law can set more. From 2026-01-01: ECB main refinancing operations rate 2.15%, so 10.15%. From 2026-07-01: ECB main refinancing operations rate 2.4%, so 10.4%. Law: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2011/7/oj/eng. Reference rate: https://www.ecb.europa.eu/stats/policy_and_exchange_rates/key_ecb_interest_rates/html/index.en.html.

## Questions

### What is the UK statutory interest rate in 2026?

11.75% a year: 8% over the Bank of England base rate of 3.75%, which was the rate on both 31 December 2025 and 30 June 2026. The rate that applies is set when interest starts and stays fixed until the debt is paid.

### What fixed sum can I add to a late UK invoice?

£40 on a debt up to £999.99, £70 from £1,000 to £9,999.99, and £100 on £10,000 or more, once per invoice, on top of the interest. Statutory interest itself does not apply if your contract sets a different interest rate.

### How much late payment interest can I charge in Germany?

Between businesses, 9 percentage points over the Bundesbank base rate: 10.27% from 1 January 2026 and 10.52% from 1 July 2026, plus a flat €40. The rate moves with the base rate, so a debt that runs across 1 July is charged at each half-year's rate.

### When does an invoice count as late?

After the payment date you agreed. In the UK, if no date was agreed, a payment is late 30 days after the customer received the invoice or the goods or service, whichever is later. The calculator charges interest from the day after the due date you enter.