What Happens if the Date of Issue of the Invoice Does Not Coincide With the Date of Payment?
The invoice date of the sale and the payment do not have to be made at the same time. It can happen that after sending the invoice it may take a few days or even a week until you receive the payment.
It is important that this term is reasonable (less than a month), and that you receive the payment on the same day or before creating the invoice.
For customers who do not pay on time, our recommendation is that you take some precautions when issuing invoices, and also include a late payment surcharge clause. These clauses are fully legal and quite common in Estonia.
Basically, you include in the invoice the date of issue, the due date (recommended a maximum of one week later), and a late payment clause that is usually 0.5% daily once the payment term has expired.
Then, if the payment is delayed three days after the due date, a 1.5% late fee would apply. For example, for an invoice of €100, it would be €1.5 more, which is not that much, but it is an important reminder for your customers to pay on time.
In the end, it's about educating your clients to respect your work or the services or products you offer professionally.
It is important that this term is reasonable (less than a month), and that you receive the payment on the same day or before creating the invoice.
For customers who do not pay on time, our recommendation is that you take some precautions when issuing invoices, and also include a late payment surcharge clause. These clauses are fully legal and quite common in Estonia.
Basically, you include in the invoice the date of issue, the due date (recommended a maximum of one week later), and a late payment clause that is usually 0.5% daily once the payment term has expired.
Then, if the payment is delayed three days after the due date, a 1.5% late fee would apply. For example, for an invoice of €100, it would be €1.5 more, which is not that much, but it is an important reminder for your customers to pay on time.
In the end, it's about educating your clients to respect your work or the services or products you offer professionally.
Updated on: 16/08/2022
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