Invoice Due Date: How to Set It, Plus Invoice Date vs Due Date
How to set an invoice due date, calculate Net 15, Net 30 and EOM terms, and understand invoice date vs due date, with examples and default legal rules.
Quick answer: An invoice due date is the specific calendar date by which your customer must pay. It is calculated from the invoice date using your agreed payment terms: an invoice dated 22 October 2026 on Net 30 terms is due on 21 November 2026. Always print the actual date on the invoice, not just "Net 30", so there is no room for interpretation.
Below you will find how invoice date and due date differ, how to calculate due dates for the most common terms, what happens when no date is agreed, and how to choose a due date that gets you paid on time. Our free invoice generator lets you set both dates and shows them clearly at the top of every invoice.
Invoice date vs due date
These two dates do different jobs, and confusing them is one of the most common causes of late payment.
| Invoice date | Due date | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | The day the invoice is issued | The last day to pay on time |
| Set by | The date you create and send the invoice | Invoice date plus your payment terms |
| Used for | Starting the payment clock, tax period, record-keeping | Payment scheduling, late fees, reminders, aging reports |
| Can it change? | No, once issued | Only by agreement with the customer |
| Example | 22 October 2026 | 21 November 2026 (Net 30) |
Some invoices also show a date of supply or service period, such as "Services: 1–30 September 2026". That records when the work happened and can matter for VAT or GST, but it doesn't change when payment is due.
How to calculate an invoice due date
Unless your contract says otherwise, count calendar days, not business days, starting the day after the invoice date. Using an invoice dated Thursday, 22 October 2026:
| Terms | How it works | Due date |
|---|---|---|
| Due on receipt | Payable as soon as the invoice is received | 22 October 2026 |
| Net 7 | 7 days after the invoice date | Thursday, 29 October 2026 |
| Net 15 | 15 days after the invoice date | Friday, 6 November 2026 |
| Net 30 | 30 days after the invoice date | Saturday, 21 November 2026 |
| Net 30 EOM | 30 days after the end of the invoice month (a common reading) | Monday, 30 November 2026 |
"EOM" (end of month) terms are read differently by different companies; some mean "due at the end of the following month". Avoid the ambiguity by printing the resulting date. For a full explanation of each term, including 2/10 Net 30, see our guide to invoice payment terms.
When the due date falls on a weekend
Notice that Net 30 in the example lands on a Saturday. There is no universal rule for weekends or public holidays. If it matters to you, either set the due date to the preceding Friday or add a line such as "Payments received by the next business day are treated as on time." Clear beats clever.
The same thinking applies to time zones when you bill clients abroad. A payment sent late on the due date in one country may arrive the next day in yours. If timing is tight, state which time zone applies or simply allow a day of grace in practice, rather than charging a late fee over a few hours.
What if no invoice due date is agreed?
If your invoice and contract say nothing, default rules may apply, and they vary by country. As general guidance only:
- United Kingdom: under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998, where no payment date is agreed for a business-to-business sale, statutory interest can generally start 30 days after the later of delivery or receipt of the invoice.
- European Union: the Late Payment Directive (2011/7/EU) sets a 30-day default where no period is agreed, and generally caps agreed business-to-business terms at 60 days unless expressly agreed and not grossly unfair. Public authorities are generally held to 30 days. Member states implement this in their own laws, and reforms have been under discussion.
- United States: there is no single federal default for private businesses. Federal and many state government contracts have prompt-payment rules, and many states have prompt-payment laws for construction.
These rules change and have exceptions, so check with a local adviser before relying on them. If you bill UK clients, our UK invoice generator sets GBP and VAT fields by default. The simplest protection everywhere is to agree terms in writing before work starts and print the due date on every invoice.
How to choose the right due date
Shorter terms improve cash flow, but only if the customer can actually meet them. Consider:
- Your customer's payment cycle. Large companies often run fixed weekly or monthly payment runs. Asking when their next run is can be the difference between being paid this month or next.
- Your costs. If you pay for materials or subcontractors up front, shorter terms or a deposit reduce your exposure.
- Industry norms. Net 30 is common in business-to-business work; freelancers often use Net 7 or Net 14; consumers are usually billed due on receipt.
- Incentives. An early payment discount such as 2/10 Net 30 can pull payments forward when cash is tight.
Your due dates also drive your forecast. Our guide to cash flow management shows how to plan around the dates customers actually pay.
Due dates for recurring, deposit and milestone invoices
Not every invoice follows the simple "invoice date plus 30 days" pattern. A few common variations:
- Recurring invoices. For monthly retainers or subscriptions, issue on the same day each month and keep the same terms, so the customer's payment run picks them up predictably. Our recurring invoices guide covers scheduling.
- Deposit invoices. These are usually due on receipt or within a few days, because work is scheduled only once the deposit arrives.
- Milestone invoices. Each stage invoice gets its own due date, normally calculated from the date that stage is invoiced, not from the start of the project.
- Consumer invoices. Individuals rarely run payment cycles, so "due on receipt" or a short Net 7 is typical.
Wording examples you can copy
Clear wording removes the most common excuses for late payment. Adapt whichever fits your terms:
- "Terms: Net 14. Payment due by 5 November 2026."
- "Payment must be received in full by 21 November 2026."
- "Due on receipt. Work begins once payment is received."
- "Net 30. Invoices unpaid after the due date may incur late fees as set out in our agreement."
Only mention late fees if they were agreed in your contract or are allowed by law where you operate.
How to show the due date on an invoice
- Place it at the top. Put the invoice date and due date next to the invoice number, where accounts payable looks first. The Blue invoice template keeps these fields prominent.
- Use an unambiguous format. Write "21 November 2026" or "November 21, 2026" instead of 11/21/26, which international clients may misread.
- State the terms alongside it. For example: "Terms: Net 30. Payment due by 21 November 2026."
- Say what "on time" means. Specify "received by" if you need funds in your account on that date.
- Repeat it in your email. Put the invoice number and due date in the subject line.
What to do as the due date approaches
Treat the due date as the center of a short, predictable follow-up sequence rather than the start of chasing.
- 3–5 days before: a friendly reminder with the invoice attached.
- On the due date: a short note that payment is due today.
- 7 days after: a firmer follow-up, referencing any late fee in your terms.
- 14–30 days after: a phone call and a written final notice.
Our payment reminder email templates cover each stage. Once a date has passed, the playbook for an overdue invoice takes over, and if you agreed late charges in advance, see how to charge late payment fees. To see how many of your invoices are slipping past their due dates, an accounts receivable aging report sorts them into 30, 60 and 90-day buckets.
Set your invoice due date now
Open the invoice generator, enter your invoice date, choose your terms, and type the exact due date into the invoice before you download the PDF. A clear date is the easiest late-payment fix there is.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between invoice date and due date?
The invoice date is the day the invoice is issued and starts the payment period. The due date is the last day the customer can pay without being late, calculated from the invoice date using your payment terms.
How do I calculate a Net 30 due date?
Count 30 calendar days from the invoice date, unless your contract says otherwise. An invoice dated 22 October 2026 on Net 30 terms is due on 21 November 2026.
Is the due date the day payment must be sent or received?
It depends on your terms, which is why it helps to say so explicitly. Many businesses write 'payment must be received by' the due date so that bank processing time is the customer's responsibility.
What happens if an invoice due date falls on a weekend?
There is no universal rule. Many businesses treat payment on the next business day as on time, but if timing matters, set the due date on a weekday or state your policy on the invoice.
Can I change the due date after sending an invoice?
You can agree a new date with the customer, but don't silently edit the issued invoice. Confirm the extension in writing and note it in your records, or issue a corrected invoice if your process requires it.
What does due on receipt actually mean?
It means payment is expected as soon as the customer receives the invoice. In practice, many customers treat it as within a few days, and it gives you no fixed date for reminders or late fees. If you want prompt payment, print a specific date instead, such as payment due by 29 October 2026, and agree it with the customer upfront.
Can I charge interest when a business customer pays after the due date?
If your contract allows it, or the law provides it. In the UK, businesses can generally claim statutory interest at 8 percentage points above the Bank of England base rate, plus fixed compensation of 40, 70 or 100 pounds depending on the debt size. In other countries, rules differ, so agree late-payment terms in writing before work starts.
Do government clients have to pay by a set due date?
Often, yes. US federal agencies are generally covered by the Prompt Payment Act, which usually requires payment within 30 days of receiving a proper invoice and adds interest when they pay late. EU public authorities are generally held to 30 days. State, local and other national rules vary, so check your contract and the relevant authority's guidance.
Does a partial payment change the due date?
No, not unless you agree a new arrangement. The unpaid balance remains due on the original date, and it becomes overdue if not paid by then. If you agree a payment plan, confirm the new dates and amounts in writing and note them in your records, so reminders and any late fees apply to the right dates.
What if a large customer insists on longer payment terms than mine?
Big buyers often set payment terms in their supplier agreements, but those terms are still negotiable before you sign. Check whether local law caps them: the EU Late Payment Directive, for example, generally limits business terms to 60 days unless expressly agreed and not grossly unfair. You can also price in the wait or offer an early payment discount.
Invoice Creator Editorial Team
Guides on invoicing, cash flow and small-business finance from Invoice Creator, operated by Next Software Development Company. Content is reviewed for accuracy against the fields our own invoice generator produces.
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