Late payment interest guide

Germany late payment interest calculator

Use this page for German-law debts where the statutory Basiszinssatz formula under BGB § 288 is relevant.

German debts under BGB § 288

How the calculation works

Formula
Basiszinssatz + 9 percentage points for non-consumer debts, or + 5 percentage points for consumer debts.
Current stored rate
1.52% base rate effective 2026-07-01; current stored B2B formula rate 10.52% and consumer formula rate 6.52%.
Recovery compensation
The EUR 40 recovery cost compensation applies to non-consumer debts; it does not apply to consumer debts.

For a German B2B invoice, the calculator applies Basiszinssatz + 9 percentage points and can include the EUR 40 recovery cost.

This tool calculates interest mechanically from stored rate data. It is not legal advice. Always check the contract, governing law, debtor status, and any sector-specific rules.

Frequently asked questions

Which German base rate is used?

The calculator uses the official Basiszinssatz series and applies the statutory margin for the selected debtor type.

What is the difference between B2B and consumer debts?

B2B and non-consumer debts generally use Basiszinssatz + 9 percentage points; consumer debts use + 5 percentage points.

Does the EUR 40 recovery cost apply to consumers?

No. The recovery cost compensation is handled as applying to non-consumer debts only.