Getting paid
Past-due invoice
A past-due invoice is an invoice that has not been paid by its due date, making the balance overdue.
What makes an invoice past due
An invoice becomes past due the day after its stated due date passes without payment. At that point the balance is overdue and, depending on your terms, may be subject to a late fee or interest.
A few past-due invoices are normal in business, but letting them pile up hurts cash flow. The faster you follow up, the more likely you are to be paid.
How to handle a past-due invoice
Start with a polite reminder as soon as the due date passes — often a simple nudge is all it takes. If there’s still no payment, send firmer follow-ups at set intervals, restate the amount and any late fee, and make it effortless to pay with a direct link.
Preventing the problem is even better: clear terms, shorter due dates, deposits, and automatic reminders dramatically reduce how many invoices go past due in the first place.
Example: An invoice due June 15 is unpaid on June 16, making it past due. The freelancer sends an automated reminder that day and the client pays within 48 hours.
FAQs
Frequently asked questions
Can I charge interest on a past-due invoice?
Yes, if your agreed payment terms include a late fee or interest. A common approach is 1–2% of the balance per month overdue.
How do I stop invoices from going past due?
Use clear, shorter payment terms, require deposits on larger jobs, offer one-click online payment, and turn on automatic reminders so follow-up happens without you.
Related terms
Net 30
Net 30 is a payment term that means the full invoice balance is due within 30 days of the invoice date.
Payment terms
Payment terms are the conditions on an invoice that state when payment is due and how it should be made — for example "Net 30" or "Due on receipt."
Invoice payment
An invoice payment is the funds a buyer sends to a seller to settle the amount owed on an invoice, by or before its due date.
Due on receipt
"Due on receipt" is a payment term meaning the client is expected to pay the invoice immediately upon receiving it, rather than within a set number of days.
Put it into practice
WaffleInvoice lets you create branded invoices, set payment terms, collect payments online, and automate reminders — free for unlimited invoices.
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