Official Statistics: Large businesses’ payment practices and performance: Statistics (2025)

Annual statistics describing how large UK businesses pay their suppliers rely on the data reported under The Payment Practices and Performance Reporting Regulations 2017. The regulations require qualifying organisations to publish information about their payment practices, performance, and the impact on suppliers. Here is a concise overview of the latest published figures, focusing on three key dimensions: the number of reports submitted, the average time to pay, and the proportion of invoices paid late (by both number and value).

Number of reports submitted
– The latest annual period shows a steady level of compliance with the obligation to report under the regulations. A substantial share of large UK businesses submit their Payment Practices and Performance reports each year, reflecting a mature reporting culture within the corporate sector.
– The total number of reports submitted in the most recent cycle remains high, underscoring the expectation that organisations disclose their payment terms, practice, and performance to suppliers and stakeholders.
– Reporting rates tend to be strongest among the largest organisations, with a clear trend of improved transparency across sectors over time. This allows for more robust comparisons and better accountability in the supply chain.

Average time to pay
– Among organisations that publish specific payment terms, the average time to pay a supplier after receipt of a valid invoice typically falls within a defined window set by policy and contract norms. The data consistently show that many large UK businesses use payment terms of between 30 and 60 days, with some organisations extending to 90 days for certain categories of suppliers.
– A subset of reporting entities demonstrates performance closer to 30 days, while others report longer periods, reflecting variations by sector, contract type, and underlying payment arrangements.
– The published figures provide useful benchmarks for suppliers seeking visibility into typical payment windows across large organisations, highlighting where payment practices align with or fall short of stated terms.

Proportion of invoices paid late (by number and by value)
– The proportion of invoices paid late is a critical indicator of payment performance and supplier cash flow. Across the latest reports, a noticeable share of invoices is paid late, though the exact percentage varies by organisation and industry.
– When examining by number, late payments comprise a meaningful minority of all invoices. Organisation-level performance highlights improvements in some cases, with late-payment rates decreasing as reporting practices mature and supplier relationships become more structured.
– By value, late payments can represent a smaller or larger share depending on the mix of small vs. high-value invoices within a supplier portfolio. In several instances, late-payment values are proportionally lower than late payment counts, suggesting that higher-value invoices are often paid within target terms even if a larger volume of smaller invoices experiences delays.
– The data emphasise the importance of early payment programmes, transparent communication about term changes, and proactive supplier relationship management as levers to improve both the speed and predictability of payments.

Interpreting the data
– The annual statistics provide a high-level view of payment practices among large UK businesses. They enable comparisons across organisations, sectors, and time, supporting benchmarking and informed dialogue with suppliers.
– While the overall trend has been towards greater transparency and more timely payments, there remains variability driven by contract structures, sector-specific norms, and macroeconomic conditions that affect cash flow.
– Stakeholders—both buyer organisations and suppliers—can use these insights to identify opportunities for improvement, such as standardising payment terms, implementing supplier payment dashboards, and adopting policies that prioritise prompt settlement of invoices, particularly for smaller suppliers.

Implications for policy and practice
– The reporting framework under the 2017 Regulations continues to play a pivotal role in driving visibility into how large UK businesses pay their suppliers. Regular publication of these metrics supports accountability and can motivate best practices across the economy.
– For policy-makers, the statistics offer a lens into where targeted guidance or incentives may help reduce late payments and improve overall financial resilience within supply chains.
– For businesses, the data highlight the reputational and operational benefits of transparent payment practices—faster settlements can strengthen supplier relationships, reduce administrative friction, and support smoother procurement operations.

Concluding thoughts
– The annual payment statistics published under the The Payment Practices and Performance Reporting Regulations 2017 provide a consistent framework for assessing how large UK businesses remunerate their suppliers. By focusing on the number of reports submitted, the average time to pay, and the proportion of invoices paid late (by number and by value), stakeholders can track progress, identify gaps, and drive improvements that foster healthier, more reliable supply chains across the economy.

July 3, 2026 at 08:43AM
官方统计：大型企业的支付做法与绩效：统计数据（2025）
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/announcements/large-businesses-payment-practices-and-performance-statistics-2025
年度统计数据描述英国大型企业向其供应商支付款项的情况，数据基于2017年《支付实践与绩效报告规定》下的申报信息。

包括以下统计内容：企业提交报告的数量、平均支付时间，以及按数量和按金额计算的逾期付款比例。

阅读更多中文内容： Annual Insights: How UK Businesses Pay Their Suppliers Under The Payment Practices and Performance Reporting Regulations 2017