When an invoice is due
If you agree nothing, the invoice is due immediately on receipt. That surprises people who expect a default of 30 days – there is none in German law.
What exists is a fallback for default (Verzug): a business customer is in default at the latest 30 days after receiving the invoice, without you having to send a reminder. For consumers, the same applies only if you pointed it out on the invoice.
In practice, name a date: „Zahlbar bis 28.08.2026 ohne Abzug.“ Clear, standard, and it removes the argument about when the clock started.
What you may charge once they are in default
| Business customer | Consumer | |
|---|---|---|
| Default interest | 9 percentage points above base rate | 5 percentage points above base rate |
| Flat late fee | 40 € per invoice | – |
| Reminder costs | actual costs, e.g. postage – not a made-up „reminder fee“ | |
The base rate changes twice a year. The Verzugszinsen-Rechner works out the amount for a given period (German, but the numbers speak for themselves).
The reminder sequence – and the myth about it
What usually works better than escalation: a friendly reminder after a week, a firm one with a deadline after two, and then a decision. Most late payments are disorganisation, not refusal – but the ones that are refusal do not improve with a fourth letter.
The Mahnbescheid, which is cheaper than people think
Germany has a streamlined court procedure for undisputed claims – the gerichtliches Mahnverfahren. You file a form, the court issues an order, and if the customer does not object you get an enforceable title. No lawyer is required, and the fee is a fraction of a lawsuit. For a clear, undisputed invoice it is usually the right next step.
Before it gets that far
- Invoice immediately. The likelihood of payment drops with every week you wait to send it.
- Ask for a deposit on larger projects. In Germany this is normal, not rude.
- Put a QR code on the invoice. A GiroCode lets the customer pay by scanning it in their banking app – no typing, no typos. You can generate one here.
- Watch the limitation period. Claims generally expire three years after the end of the year in which they arose. That sounds long until the third December.
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Write an invoice – freeCommon questions
Is a late payment fee of 40 € really allowed?
Towards business customers, yes – it is a statutory flat rate per invoice in default. It does not apply to consumers.
Can I charge a fee for sending a reminder?
You can pass on actual costs, such as postage. Invented „reminder fees“ of 5 or 10 € are not enforceable.
What is the Schuldnerverzug date exactly?
The day after the payment deadline you set. Without a deadline, 30 days after the customer received the invoice – for consumers only if you told them so on the invoice.
How long can I chase an unpaid invoice?
The regular limitation period is three years, counted from the end of the calendar year in which the claim arose. An invoice from 2026 expires at the end of 2029.
Legal basis
This page refers to the following German provisions so you can look them up yourself. It is information, not legal advice for your individual case.
- § 14 UStG – issuing invoices and mandatory content (German VAT Act)
- § 19 UStG – small business rule
- Directive 2014/55/EU – European standard EN 16931 for electronic invoicing