Delayed Payment Interest Calculator — MSMED Act, 2006

A buyer who fails to pay a registered micro or small enterprise within the statutory period owes interest at three times the RBI bank rate, compounded monthly — and it is not negotiable by contract. Enter the invoice details to see what has accrued under Section 16 of the MSMED Act, 2006.

AdvoMitra is a legal technology platform and is not a law firm. These tools and drafts are provided for general information. They are not legal advice, and no template fits every situation — have an advocate review anything you intend to rely on.

Lawyers Online 430+ Lawyers are online
110+ ongoing calls
5,000+

Legal Queries

500+

Verified Lawyers

50+

Practice Areas

100+

Cities Covered

Get Expert Legal Consultation

Get Free Consultation

Your details are 100% secure & confidential.

What the MSMED Act gives a small supplier

Section 15 requires a buyer to pay a micro or small enterprise within the period agreed, and in any event within 45 days of accepting the goods or services. A contract fixing a longer period is void to that extent.

Section 16 fixes the consequence: compound interest, with monthly rests, at three times the bank rate notified by the Reserve Bank. There is no discretion to award less, and the parties cannot contract out of it.

The interest is not deductible by the buyer for income tax purposes, which is often what finally moves a reluctant payer.

How to enforce it

The remedy is a reference to the Micro and Small Enterprises Facilitation Council in the state where the supplier is located. The Council first attempts conciliation; if that fails, it takes up arbitration itself or refers it to an institution.

The Council must dispose of the reference within 90 days. A buyer challenging the award must deposit 75% of the amount before the court will entertain the application — a significant deterrent to appeals brought purely for delay.

Udyam registration at the time the supply was made is what establishes the claim. Registration obtained afterwards generally does not help for past invoices.

Before you file

Assemble the purchase order, the invoice, proof of delivery or acceptance, the Udyam registration certificate, and any correspondence acknowledging the debt.

A demand letter setting out the Section 16 calculation resolves a meaningful proportion of these disputes without a reference, because the buyer can see what the interest is costing.

Other calculators built on the same statutory rules.

Work out every Section 138 deadline from your cheque return memo date — notice date, the drawer’s 15 days to p

Find how long you have to file. Pick the claim type and the date your cause of action arose to see the deadlin

Estimate compensation in a fatal motor accident claim using the multiplier method laid down in Sarla Verma and

Calculate the gratuity due on resignation, retirement or termination under the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972,

Work out how much house rent allowance is exempt from tax under Section 10(13A) and Rule 2A, and how much is t

Add GST to a base amount or extract GST from an inclusive price, with the CGST and SGST split shown separately

Frequently asked questions

Does this apply to medium enterprises?
No. Section 16 covers micro and small enterprises. Medium enterprises must rely on their contract and the general law on interest.
What if the contract says payment in 90 days?
That term is unenforceable beyond 45 days. The statutory period overrides the agreement.
Is the buyer’s counterclaim about quality relevant?
It can be, and the Facilitation Council will consider it. The 45-day period runs from acceptance, so a genuine and timely rejection of goods changes the position — a belated quality complaint usually does not.
Can I claim this interest in a normal civil suit instead?
The MSMED mechanism is intended to be the route, and it is faster. Courts have generally required parties to go to the Facilitation Council where the Act applies.

Why users love Advomitra

Free consultation

Direct access to a professional to evaluate your needs risk-free.

Expert Lawyers

24×7 Expert asistance for any legal problem

Dedicated Support

Case Manager to assist you throughout the case lifecycle

What our customers are saying

Customer reviews

AdvoMitra Client Reviews Carousel
4.4 30 reviews
Book Free Consultation
Lawyers Online 430+ Lawyers are online
Contact Form Demo

Legal Assistance system developed by AdvoMitra.