Blog/UK · NI · IE

UK vs Ireland late payment interest compared (for freelancers who work both)

Side-by-side comparison of UK/NI-style BoE + 8% regimes and Ireland ROI ECB + 8pp — plus when currency and contract law diverge.

· 8 min read · Lucro Limited · Educational only

Two islands, two calculators in your head

Cross-border freelancers lose money in the gap between “I think I can charge interest” and “I can show the number”. UK/NI-style commercial late payment is commonly modelled off Bank of England base + 8% with fixed compensation bands. ROI is commonly modelled off an ECB reference + 8 percentage points without the same UK fixed-band story.

Currency ≠ law

You can issue a euro invoice under UK terms, or a GBP invoice for an Irish-governed contract, depending on what you agreed. The dangerous move is mixing rules because the client’s logo is in London or Dublin. Pick the contract’s governing framework first, then the currency on the PDF.

Practical workflow

1) Confirm jurisdiction on the SOW. 2) Invoice in the agreed currency. 3) When late, calculate under that jurisdiction’s rate basis. 4) Keep the email short and factual. 5) Stop automated chase the second they pay.

Next step

Tools first, lectures second. Numbers beat awkward follow-ups.

Compare in the calculator

SortedPay is software operated by Lucro Limited (Ireland, CRO 811725). Articles are general information for freelancers in the UK, Northern Ireland, and Ireland. Not legal advice. Confirm current BoE / ECB rates and your contract before claiming interest.