Does this apply to consumers?

No. Directive 2011/7/EU covers commercial transactions between businesses, and between businesses and public authorities. Consumer late payment follows national consumer law.

From which day does interest run?

From the day after the due date, or after the statutory period when none was agreed. The calculator counts every calendar day up to and including the payment date, on a 365-day year.

Is the €40 fee per invoice?

Yes. Each invoice paid late gives the creditor a fixed minimum of €40, automatically and without a reminder. Higher, documented recovery costs can be claimed in addition.

Why does the tool split the period at 1 July?

Because the reference rate is fixed per half-year. An invoice overdue from June into August accrues at two different rates, one for each half.

Late-payment interest calculator

Statutory interest and the fixed recovery fee for an unpaid invoice in the EU. The euro-area reference rate is read live from the European Central Bank.

How statutory late-payment interest works in the EU

Statutory interest is the reference rate plus at least 8 percentage points a year. Member States may set a higher margin, never a lower one.Art. 2(6) · EU-011
If no due date was agreed, payment is due 30 calendar days after the invoice, the goods or services, or an agreed verification procedure.Art. 3(3)(b) · EU-011
Between businesses, an agreed payment period longer than 60 days is only valid if expressly agreed and not grossly unfair to the creditor.Art. 3(5) · EU-011
Public authorities must pay within 30 days; 60 days only for public health-care bodies and certain public undertakings.Art. 4(3)–(4) · EU-011
On top of interest, the creditor is owed a fixed €40 for recovery costs, without any reminder, plus reasonable costs above that.Art. 6(1) · EU-011
For euro-area countries the reference rate is the ECB main refinancing rate: the rate in force on 1 January applies to the first half of the year, the rate on 1 July to the second. Non-euro countries use their national central bank's equivalent rate. This tool reads the ECB rate from the ECB Data Portal each day.

Common questions

Does this apply to consumers?: No. Directive 2011/7/EU covers commercial transactions between businesses, and between businesses and public authorities. Consumer late payment follows national consumer law.
From which day does interest run?: From the day after the due date, or after the statutory period when none was agreed. The calculator counts every calendar day up to and including the payment date, on a 365-day year.
Is the €40 fee per invoice?: Yes. Each invoice paid late gives the creditor a fixed minimum of €40, automatically and without a reminder. Higher, documented recovery costs can be claimed in addition.
Why does the tool split the period at 1 July?: Because the reference rate is fixed per half-year. An invoice overdue from June into August accrues at two different rates, one for each half.

Sources

EU-011 · Directive 2011/7/EU on combating late payment in commercial transactions (European Union / EUR-Lex)
EU-012 · ECB key interest rates — main refinancing operations, fixed rate tenders (series FM.B.U2.EUR.4F.KR.MRR_FR.LEV) (European Central Bank, ECB Data Portal)
ES-017 · Ley 3/2004, de 29 de diciembre, por la que se establecen medidas de lucha contra la morosidad en las operaciones comerciales (consolidada) (Spain / BOE)

Informational tool based on Directive 2011/7/EU and the ECB main refinancing rate. National law may set higher margins, higher compensation or different day-count practice, and contracts may differ. It is not legal advice.

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