Invoice Due Date UK: What to Set and What the Law Says (2026)

Your invoice due date determines when you expect to get paid — and when you can legally chase a client for late payment. Getting this right protects your cash flow and gives you legal standing when clients drag their feet.

Here's everything UK freelancers and small businesses need to know about invoice due dates.

What Is an Invoice Due Date?

The invoice due date (also called the payment due date) is the date by which your client must pay you. It appears on your invoice and forms part of your payment terms.

Example: Invoice issued 1 April 2026, due date 30 April 2026 = Net 30 payment terms.

Common Invoice Payment Terms in the UK

| Term | Meaning | When It's Used | |------|---------|----------------| | Due on receipt | Pay immediately upon receiving the invoice | Deposits, small one-off jobs | | Net 7 | Payment due within 7 days | Urgent or small amounts | | Net 14 | Payment due within 14 days | Standard for many freelancers | | Net 30 | Payment due within 30 days | Most common in business-to-business | | Net 60 | Payment due within 60 days | Large companies, construction | | End of month (EOM) | Payment due at end of the month the invoice was received | Some industries |

Most UK freelancers use Net 30 or Net 14. Shorter terms improve your cash flow.

What Does UK Law Say About Invoice Due Dates?

Under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998, the default payment term for business-to-business transactions is 30 days unless you agree otherwise.

However, you can set any payment terms you and your client agree to. Setting your terms clearly in writing (on the invoice and ideally in your contract) means those terms are legally binding.

Key Legal Points

• You can set whatever due date you agree with your client — there is no legal minimum or maximum for private commercial transactions.
• If you don't state a due date, the legal default is 30 days from the invoice date.
• For public sector clients, the maximum payment term is 30 days by law — they cannot make you accept longer terms.
• For business-to-business contracts, payment terms over 60 days must be "grossly unfair" to be challenged. In practice, 90-day terms imposed by large companies are contested territory.

When Is a Payment Overdue?

A payment is legally overdue the day after the due date has passed.

If your invoice is due on 30 April 2026, it becomes overdue on 1 May 2026.

From that point, you are automatically entitled (under UK law) to:

1. Statutory interest — 8% per year plus the Bank of England base rate, calculated daily
2. Fixed debt recovery costs:
   • £40 for debts under £1,000
   • £70 for debts £1,000–£9,999
   • £100 for debts £10,000 or more

You don't need a court order to charge these — they are automatic once a payment is overdue. However, you do need to have invoiced with clear payment terms in the first place.

How to Set a Due Date on Your Invoice

Always include a clear due date on every invoice. Don't just say "payment terms: 30 days" — calculate the actual date and include it.

Example:

• Invoice date: 7 April 2026
• Payment terms: 30 days
• Due date: 7 May 2026

Write it clearly: "Payment due by: 7 May 2026"

This removes ambiguity and makes it easy to chase payment when the date passes.

Tips for Getting Paid Faster

Shorter terms: Ask for Net 14 instead of Net 30. Many freelancers find clients pay just as quickly — the default just tends to be whatever you put on the invoice.

Due on receipt for small jobs: For invoices under £500, consider asking for immediate payment.

Send promptly: The clock doesn't start until the client receives the invoice. Send it the same day you complete the work.

Follow up before the due date: A quick "just a reminder the invoice is due on X" a few days before the due date dramatically improves payment rates.

Late payment clause: Add this line to your invoices: "Late payments will be subject to statutory interest under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts Act 1998." Most clients see this and pay on time.

What If a Client Ignores the Due Date?

1. Send a payment reminder — a polite but firm email the day after the due date
2. Issue a formal letter before action after 7 days
3. Charge late payment interest — add it to a revised invoice
4. Use the Small Claims Court for amounts up to £10,000 — it's designed for exactly this

Don't wait too long. The longer an invoice sits unpaid, the less likely you are to recover it.

Create Invoices With Clear Due Dates

Billdrop automatically sets your invoice due date based on your payment terms and lets you customise it per invoice. Download as PDF, send to your client, and track payment status — all free, no account needed.

Create a free invoice with due date →

Quick Reference

• UK default payment term: 30 days (if you don't specify)
• Overdue: The day after the due date
• Late payment interest: 8% + Bank of England base rate (automatic under UK law)
• Late payment fees: £40–£100 fixed recovery cost (automatic under UK law)
• Public sector maximum: 30 days
• Best practice: Net 14 or Net 30, with the actual due date written on the invoice