UK Act of Parliament 1998 United Kingdom

LPCDIA 1998

Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998

What this means for your business

1 obligations
2 guides
Enforced by
OPSS, ECJU
Applies to
United Kingdom
On this page
1 compliance obligation, 2 practical guides across 2 topics
Read full text on legislation.gov.uk

What you must do

1 compliance obligation under this legislation.

Payments and fees 1

Pay fixed compensation for late commercial payments

If you owe a commercial debt and you pay late (i.e., after statutory interest starts to run), you must also pay a fixed compensation sum to the supplier – £40 for debts under £1,000, £70 for debts between £1,000 and £9,999, and £100 for debts £10,000 or more. If the supplier’s actual recovery costs are higher than that fixed amount, you must also cover the shortfall.

Trader/Business s.5A OPSS Statutory interest begins to run on a qualifying commercial debt (i.e., the …

Practical guidance

Our guides explain how to comply with the requirements above.

Sections and provisions

19 classified provisions from this legislation.

Duties 2

  • s.5A Compensation arising out of late payment
  • s.6 Rate of statutory interest.

Powers 1

  • s.15 Orders and regulations.

Definitions 10

  • s.1 Statutory interest.
  • s.2 Contracts to which Act applies. contract for the supply of goods or services property in goods
  • s.3 Qualifying debts.
  • s.4 Period for which statutory interest runs. public authority
  • s.7 Purpose of Part II.
  • s.9 Meaning of “substantial remedy”.
  • s.10 Interpretation of Part II. contract term contractual remedy
  • s.11 Treatment of advance payments of the contract price. advance payment
  • s.13 Assignments, etc.
  • s.16 Interpretation. contract price purchaser qualifying debt