UK introduces new law to tackle late payments for small businesses
英國引入新法以解決小型企業遭延遲付款的問題
更新於: 2026年6月7日 上午02:15
In May 2026, the UK government introduced the Small Business Protections Bill, representing the most significant crackdown on late payment practices in over 25 years.
2026年5月，英國政府推出了《小企業保護法案》，這是25年來對逾期付款行為最重大的取締行動。
Late payments cost the UK economy roughly £11 billion each year and contribute to the closure of 38 businesses daily.
逾期付款每年給英國經濟造成約110億英鎊的損失，並導致每天有38家企業倒閉。
This legislation aims to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by creating a fairer, more disciplined business environment.
該法案旨在透過創造一個更公平、更有紀律的商業環境來支持中小企業(SMEs)。
Key reforms include capping payment terms at 60 days for large firms and making 8% statutory interest on late payments mandatory.
關鍵改革包括將大型企業的付款期限上限設定為60天，並強制執行8%的逾期付款法定利息。
Furthermore, the Small Business Commissioner will receive enhanced powers to investigate poor practices and impose significant fines on persistent offenders.
此外，小企業專員將獲得擴大的權力，以調查不良行為並對累犯者處以重罰。
Large companies may also be required to publicly disclose their payment performance, ensuring accountability at the board level.
大型企業可能還需要公開披露其付款表現，以確保董事會層級的問責制。
Currently moving through the House of Lords, the legislation intends to be a non-waivable provision, preventing large corporations from using private contracts to bypass these new protections for smaller suppliers.
目前該法案正在上議院審議，旨在成為不可放棄的條款，防止大型企業利用私人合約規避這些針對小型供應商的新保護措施。
