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Calculate the 8% statutory interest you can add to a small claims court debt. Working calculator under section 69 County Courts Act 1984. Daily rate, total accrued, and what to claim.

Calculate your interest

Days since debt fell due

Total interest accrued

Total to claim today

Add the daily rate of

per day until judgment. Interest continues to accrue from filing through to payment.

8% per annum is the statutory rate under section 69 of the County Courts Act 1984. For commercial debts (B2B), use the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 — same 8% above Bank of England base rate.

When you can add interest

• — from the date the invoice was due (typically 30 days from issue, or as stated in the contract).
• — from the date repayment was due under the loan agreement.
• Goods returned for refund but not refunded
• — from the date you returned the goods.
• Deposit not returned
• — from the date the trader was obliged to return it (end of tenancy, completion of work, etc.).
• Damages for breach of contract
• — from the date the breach caused you the loss.

Including interest in your claim

Interest must be claimed explicitly on the claim form. On the N1 form or the online Money Claim form, complete the interest section by ticking the box for section 69 of the County Courts Act 1984, stating the daily rate (principal multiplied by 0.08, divided by 365), stating the total accrued from the date the debt fell due to the date you file, and asking that interest continues to accrue at that daily rate from filing through to judgment or earlier payment.

If the defendant pays before judgment, calculate interest through to the date they actually pay. Do not stop at the filing date.

Business debts and the Late Payment Act

For debts between businesses, the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 applies instead. The rate is 8% above the Bank of England base rate, not a flat 8%. With base rate at 4.5% in mid-2026, that comes to 12.5% per year. The Late Payment Act also entitles you to a fixed compensation amount on top: £40 for debts under £1,000, £70 for debts between £1,000 and £9,999, and £100 for debts of £10,000 and over. You cannot use both Acts against the same debt, so for business debts the Late Payment Act is usually the better choice when the base rate is high.

As a worked example: the defendant owes £3,500, due on 1 March 2025, filing date 1 June 2026 (457 days). Daily rate at 8%: £3,500 times 0.08 divided by 365 equals £0.77 per day. Total interest to filing: 457 times £0.77 equals £351.89. You claim £3,851.89 on the form, plus £0.77 per day from filing onward.