Free tool · rates checked 21 October 2026
Late payment interest calculator
Work out the statutory interest and fixed compensation you can add to an unpaid business invoice. In the UK that is 11.75% a year in 2026 plus £40 to £100; in Germany 9 points over the Bundesbank base rate plus €40; elsewhere in the EU at least the directive's minimum.
Calculate
Fill in the form and select Calculate. Rates are published for 2026, so the due date must fall in 2026.
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The rules and rates
- 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 1 January 2026: Bank of England base rate 3.75%, so 11.75%. From 1 July 2026: Bank of England base rate 3.75%, so 11.75%. Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998, with the rate set by SI 2002/1675 (England, Wales and Northern Ireland); Bank of England base rate.
- Germany: 9 percentage points over the Bundesbank base rate (Basiszinssatz), which is reset on 1 January and 1 July, plus a flat €40. From 1 January 2026: Bundesbank base rate (Basiszinssatz) 1.27%, so 10.27%. From 1 July 2026: Bundesbank base rate (Basiszinssatz) 1.52%, so 10.52%. § 288 BGB (Verzugszinsen), business-to-business payment claims; Bundesbank base rate (Basiszinssatz).
- 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 1 January 2026: ECB main refinancing operations rate 2.15%, so 10.15%. From 1 July 2026: ECB main refinancing operations rate 2.4%, so 10.4%. Directive 2011/7/EU on combating late payment in commercial transactions; ECB main refinancing operations rate.
Last checked 21 October 2026.
Run it with curl
curl "https://app.superbooks.io/api/tools/late-payment?jurisdiction=uk&amount=1000&due=2026-03-01&paid=2026-04-20"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.