Calculate the late-payment interest due
Enter the invoice details and the due and payment dates to calculate the applicable statutory interest.
The applicable legislation
In Portugal, late-payment interest on commercial transactions is governed by Decree-Law No. 62/2013, of 10 May, which transposed the European Parliament's Directive 2011/7/EU on combating late payment.
Decree-Law No. 62/2013 — key points
- B2B (business to business): maximum payment term of 60 days. After that term, automatic late-payment interest.
- B2G (business to government): maximum term of 30 days. The public sector has stricter rules.
- Automatic application: interest is due without any need for notice, notification or a judicial demand.
- Rate: ECB reference rate + 8 percentage points, revised every six months.
Example: Invoice 15 000 € | 45 days overdue | ECB rate 2.65%
Interest rate = 2.65% + 8% = 10.65% p.a.
Interest = 15 000 × 0.1065 × (45/365) = 196.92 €
The ECB reference rate is set by Banco de Portugal and published in the Diário da República in January and July each year. In 2026, the rate stands at 2.65%, resulting in a late-payment interest rate of 10.65% per year.
How to charge late-payment interest
Although interest is due automatically by law, you must formalise it in order to collect it. Follow these 3 steps:
Issue a debit note
Issue a debit note referencing the original invoice, the days overdue and the amount calculated under DL 62/2013. Include the IBAN for payment.
Collection letter
Send the debtor a registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt, stating the payment deadline (e.g. 15 days) and mentioning the possibility of an enforcement action in the event of non-payment.
Enforcement action
If the debt persists, engage an enforcement agent. The invoice and the debit note constitute an enforceable title, allowing a simplified procedure without a prior declaratory action.
How to avoid paying late-payment interest
If it is your company that has to pay suppliers, these are the best practices to avoid incurring late-payment interest:
Use confirming
Confirming ensures suppliers are paid within the agreed term, automatically. It removes the risk of default from an oversight or a temporary liquidity gap.
Learn more about confirming →Negotiate realistic terms
When signing contracts, negotiate payment terms you can comfortably meet, taking your collection cycle (DSO) into account. A DPO higher than your DSO creates treasury pressure.
Calculate DPO →Set up due-date alerts
Many cases of late payment come down to simply forgetting. Set up automatic alerts 5 and 2 days before supplier invoices fall due so you are never caught by surprise.
Manage it on the Advanta platform →Payment delays by sector in Portugal
The average payment term in Portugal is 71 days, well above the 60-day legal limit for B2B transactions. The sectors with the highest incidence of late payment:
Source: Banco de Portugal, Intrum European Payment Report 2025. Illustrative data based on sector averages.
Frequently asked questions
Never pay late-payment interest again
With Confirming, Advanta ensures your suppliers are paid within the legal term. Your company repays in 60-90 days, with no risk of default.