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ARTICLE · 07 AUGUST 2026

Limited Payment Terms In B2B Relationships

ALTIUS
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New Belgian legislation introduces stricter payment terms for business-to-business transactions, capping payment periods at 60 days and eliminating contractual flexibility around invoice receipt dates. The Act of 14 August 2021 strengthens protections for creditors by imposing automatic penalties on late-paying debtors, including a 10.5% interest rate and fixed recovery costs, fundamentally reshaping commercial payment practices.

BelgiumCorporate/Commercial Law
Bart Heynickx
Bart Heynickx
Thomas Grandjean
Thomas Grandjean
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In February 2022, new legislation came into force amending the Act of 2 August 2002 on combating late payment in commercial transactions1.

This Act introduces stricter rules designed to combat late payment in commercial transactions, i.e. between businesses (B2B), with a view to protecting businesses from insolvency and abuse and maintaining their cash flow in good health.

Previously: The regime established by the Act of 2 August 2002, as amended by the Act of 22 November 2013

The Act of 2 August 2002 on combating late payment in commercial transactions, as amended by the Act of 22 November 2013, transposing the Directives 2000/35/EC of 29 June 2000 and 2011/7/EU of 16 February 2011, was intended to speed up the payment of invoices issued between businesses through various measures, notably the setting of binding payment deadlines and a default interest rate higher than the standard statutory interest rate.

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