Legal Interest Calculator and Commercial Late Fee 2026
Calculate legal interest (art.1284 c.c., 1.60% in 2026) and B2B commercial late payment interest (D.Lgs 231/2002, 10.15% H1 2026 - BCE+8pp). Calculate pro-rata free days and immediate.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the legal interest rate for 2026?
Interest rate for 2026 is 1.60% per annum (DM MEF 10/12/2025, GU n.289 of 13/12/2025, effective January 1, 2026). It was 2.00% in 2025. Applies to civil credits without a different contractual agreement (art.1284 cc).
How is the late payment interest rate under DLgs 231/2002 calculated in 2026?
Interest rate for commercial transactions (D.Lgs 231/2002 art.5) is equal to the reference BCE rate plus 8 percentage points. As of H1 2026, the BCE reference rate is 2.15%, so the interest rate is 10.15% per annum. The rate is updated every six months on January 1st and July 1st based on BCE decisions.
What is the difference between legal interest and commercial overdue interest?
Legal interest (art.1284 c.c.) applies to civil credits generally and is set annually by the MEF (1.60% in 2026). Late payment interest (D.Lgs 231/2002) only applies to B2B commercial transactions and public authority payments, with a much higher rate (≈10% in 2026) to discourage delays.
When do interest accruals for late payments occur in commercial transactions?
According to DLgs 231/2002, late interest accrues automatically on the day following the payment deadline agreed upon (or, in absence, 30 days from invoice receipt). No formal request is required; late interest triggers automatically by law.
How is daily interest calculated on a pro rata basis?
Interest = Capital x (Percentage / 100) x (Days / 365). Example: €10,000 x 1.60% x 91/365 = €39.89. For late payment, the same formula is used but with a semi-annual BCE+8pp rate: €10,000 x 10.15% x 91/365 = €252.88.
Can I also claim reimbursement for credit recovery costs?
Yes, the D.Lgs 231/2002 also provides a statutory compensation for recovery costs (art.6): €40 for credits up to €1,000, €70 for credits up to €10,000, and €100 above €10,000. This amount is in addition to interest on late payments and does not require proof of damages. This calculator only calculates interest, not the statutory compensation.
How is it used?
- Choose your interest type
Select "Legal Interest" for civil credits (Article 1284 CC) or "Commercial Late Payment" for B2B and PA delays (D.Lgs 231/2002).
- Insert capital and period
Indicate the capital (credit amount). For legal rate select year; for late payment insert start date (determine quarter BCE) and number of days.
- Calculate interest
Calculate interest to get matured amount, applied rate and total including capital.
- Verify with a professional
This calculator is indicative. For debt recovery, court orders or lawsuits, consult an attorney or accountant.
Legal Interest and Commercial Delay: What to Know in 2026
The 2026 legal interest rate was set at 1.60% per year by MEF Ministerial Decree of 10 December 2025 (Gazzetta Ufficiale no. 289 of 13/12/2025), in force from 1 January 2026. It was 2.00% in 2025. The legal rate applies to civil claims in the absence of a different contractual agreement (art. 1284 c.c.).
Commercial late-payment interest (D.Lgs 231/2002) applies to late payments in B2B transactions and towards the public administration. The rate is calculated as: ECB reference rate + 8 percentage points. For H1 2026 the ECB rate is 2.15%, so the late-payment interest is 10.15% per year. The rate is updated every six months on 1 January and 1 July.
The applied formula is: Interest = Capital × (Rate% / 100) × (Days / 365). This calculator does not include the fixed compensation for recovery costs (D.Lgs 231/2002 art.6: €40–€100 per each late invoice), nor interest on interest (anatocism - limited by civil code).
Practical example
Scenario: A company has a trade receivable of €10,000 that has remained unpaid for 91 days starting from 1 February 2026 (late payment of a B2B invoice).
- Interest type: Commercial default (Legislative Decree 231/2002)
- Principal:
€10,000 - Start date moratorium:
2026-02-01→ Semester H1 2026 → ECB rate 2.15% + 8pp =10.15% - Days:
91 - Formula:
10,000 × (10.15 / 100) × (91 / 365) = €252.88 - Total to request:
€10,000 + €252.88 = €10,252.88(plus possible fixed indemnity fee of €70)
Note: for the same amount with legal interest (1.60% 2026): 10,000 × 0.016 × 91/365 = €39.89. Commercial late-payment interest is much higher: about 6.3× the legal rate.
Vocabulary Dictionary
- Legal interest rate
- Fixed rate annually set by DM MEF and published in Gazzetta Ufficiale. Applies to civil credits without a different contractual agreement (Article 1284 of the Civil Code). In 2026 it is 1.60%.
- Commercial Delay (D.Lgs 231/2002)
- Interest that automatically triggers for late payments on B2B and PA transactions without formal grace periods. Equivalent to BCE ref rate + 8pp; updated semi-annually.
- Reference BCE Rate
- Interest rate on main refinancing operations set by the European Central Bank. As of H1 2026, it is 2.15%. Determines the basis for late payment interest under DLgs 231/2002.
- Pro-rata time
- Interest calculation method on a daily basis: effective days / 365. Avoid distortions caused by using commercial months (30/360) or bank year (365/360).
- Forfait damage allowance (Article 6, DLgs 231/2002)
- Automatic compensation for credit recovery costs in case of late payment B2B: €40 (credits ≤ €1,000), €70 (€1,001–€10,000), €100 (over €10,000). No proof of damage required. This calculator does not include this amount.
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