# Payment reminder to a client abroad: 3 English templates > Your business is in Germany or Austria, your client is in a country without its own page here, and the invoice is still open? Here are three English reminders ready to copy: payment reminder, second reminder and final notice, in the currency of your choice and with your international transfer details in the right place. Source: https://back-bone.io/en/blog/mahnung-rest-der-welt Published: 2026-10-17 · Updated: 2026-10-18 Category: Guides **Change country** *EU* - [Austria](https://back-bone.io/en/blog/mahnung-oesterreich) - [Belgium](https://back-bone.io/en/blog/mahnung-belgien) - [Bulgaria](https://back-bone.io/en/blog/mahnung-bulgarien) - [Croatia](https://back-bone.io/en/blog/mahnung-kroatien) - [Cyprus](https://back-bone.io/en/blog/mahnung-zypern) - [Czechia](https://back-bone.io/en/blog/mahnung-tschechien) - [Denmark](https://back-bone.io/en/blog/mahnung-daenemark) - [Estonia](https://back-bone.io/en/blog/mahnung-estland) - [Finland](https://back-bone.io/en/blog/mahnung-finnland) - [France](https://back-bone.io/en/blog/mahnung-frankreich) - [Germany](https://back-bone.io/en/blog/mahnung-deutschland) - [Greece](https://back-bone.io/en/blog/mahnung-griechenland) - [Hungary](https://back-bone.io/en/blog/mahnung-ungarn) - [Ireland](https://back-bone.io/en/blog/mahnung-irland) - [Italy](https://back-bone.io/en/blog/mahnung-italien) - [Latvia](https://back-bone.io/en/blog/mahnung-lettland) - [Lithuania](https://back-bone.io/en/blog/mahnung-litauen) - [Luxembourg](https://back-bone.io/en/blog/mahnung-luxemburg) - [Malta](https://back-bone.io/en/blog/mahnung-malta) - [Netherlands](https://back-bone.io/en/blog/mahnung-niederlande) - [Poland](https://back-bone.io/en/blog/mahnung-polen) - [Portugal](https://back-bone.io/en/blog/mahnung-portugal) - [Romania](https://back-bone.io/en/blog/mahnung-rumaenien) - [Slovakia](https://back-bone.io/en/blog/mahnung-slowakei) - [Slovenia](https://back-bone.io/en/blog/mahnung-slowenien) - [Spain](https://back-bone.io/en/blog/mahnung-spanien) - [Sweden](https://back-bone.io/en/blog/mahnung-schweden) *Europe (outside the EU)* - [Albania](https://back-bone.io/en/blog/mahnung-albanien) - [Bosnia and Herzegovina](https://back-bone.io/en/blog/mahnung-bosnien-und-herzegowina) - [Iceland](https://back-bone.io/en/blog/mahnung-island) - [Kosovo](https://back-bone.io/en/blog/mahnung-kosovo) - [Liechtenstein](https://back-bone.io/en/blog/mahnung-liechtenstein) - [Moldova](https://back-bone.io/en/blog/mahnung-moldau) - [Montenegro](https://back-bone.io/en/blog/mahnung-montenegro) - [North Macedonia](https://back-bone.io/en/blog/mahnung-nordmazedonien) - [Norway](https://back-bone.io/en/blog/mahnung-norwegen) - [Serbia](https://back-bone.io/en/blog/mahnung-serbien) - [Switzerland](https://back-bone.io/en/blog/mahnung-schweiz) - [Turkey](https://back-bone.io/en/blog/mahnung-tuerkei) - [Ukraine](https://back-bone.io/en/blog/mahnung-ukraine) - [United Kingdom](https://back-bone.io/en/blog/mahnung-grossbritannien) *Other countries* - [United Arab Emirates](https://back-bone.io/en/blog/mahnung-vereinigte-arabische-emirate) - [United States](https://back-bone.io/en/blog/mahnung-usa) - [Rest of the world](https://back-bone.io/en/blog/mahnung-rest-der-welt) ## Your law, your interest Your contract is usually governed by your German or Austrian law; best to state that in your quote and your terms. For business clients, German law gives you 9 percentage points above the base rate, so **10.52%** for the second half of 2026, plus a EUR 40 flat fee. Austrian law gives you 9.2 points, so **10.73%**, also with EUR 40. The [late-payment interest calculator](https://back-bone.io/en/tools/late-payment-interest-calculator) works out the exact amount. ## The three templates Pick where your business is based, Germany or Austria, above each template: the rate, the law and the flat fee are already filled in. You only replace the bracketed placeholders. **Stage 1: Payment reminder** *Germany* ```text Subject: Payment reminder — invoice [number] Dear [Mr/Ms surname], I hope you are well. This is a friendly reminder that invoice [number] of [invoice date] for [EUR / USD / GBP / CHF] [amount] was due on [due date] and is still open on our side. If the payment is already on its way, please disregard this message. Otherwise, please pay the amount by bank transfer to: Account holder: [your company] IBAN: [IBAN] BIC (SWIFT): [BIC] Reference: [invoice number] Kind regards, [your name] ``` *Austria* ```text Subject: Payment reminder — invoice [number] Dear [Mr/Ms surname], I hope you are well. This is a friendly reminder that invoice [number] of [invoice date] for [EUR / USD / GBP / CHF] [amount] was due on [due date] and is still open on our side. If the payment is already on its way, please disregard this message. Otherwise, please pay the amount by bank transfer to: Account holder: [your company] IBAN: [IBAN] BIC (SWIFT): [BIC] Reference: [invoice number] Kind regards, [your name] ``` **Stage 2: Second reminder** *Germany* ```text Subject: Second reminder — invoice [number], now overdue Dear [Mr/Ms surname], Despite our reminder of [date], invoice [number] of [invoice date] for [EUR / USD / GBP / CHF] [amount] remains unpaid. The payment is now [x] days overdue. Please settle the outstanding amount by [new date]. Under our terms and German law (§ 288 BGB), default interest of 10.52% per annum applies from [date default began], plus a flat fee of EUR 40 for recovery costs. IBAN: [IBAN] · BIC (SWIFT): [BIC] · Reference: [invoice number] If there is a problem with this invoice, please contact me directly so we can sort it out. Kind regards, [your name] ``` *Austria* ```text Subject: Second reminder — invoice [number], now overdue Dear [Mr/Ms surname], Despite our reminder of [date], invoice [number] of [invoice date] for [EUR / USD / GBP / CHF] [amount] remains unpaid. The payment is now [x] days overdue. Please settle the outstanding amount by [new date]. Under our terms and Austrian law (§ 456 and § 458 UGB), default interest of 10.73% per annum applies from [date default began], plus a flat fee of EUR 40 for recovery costs. IBAN: [IBAN] · BIC (SWIFT): [BIC] · Reference: [invoice number] If there is a problem with this invoice, please contact me directly so we can sort it out. Kind regards, [your name] ``` **Stage 3: Final notice** *Germany* ```text Subject: Final notice — invoice [number] Dear [Mr/Ms surname], Invoice [number] of [invoice date] for [EUR / USD / GBP / CHF] [amount] is still outstanding despite two reminders, most recently on [date]. Outstanding amount: [EUR / USD / GBP / CHF] [amount] Default interest ([x] days at 10.52%): [EUR / USD / GBP / CHF] [interest] Flat fee for recovery costs (EUR 40): [EUR / USD / GBP / CHF] [fee] Total now due: [EUR / USD / GBP / CHF] [total] Please transfer the total to IBAN [IBAN] by [date]. If we have not received payment by then, we will hand the claim over for collection, and any further costs will be added to your account. Kind regards, [your name] ``` *Austria* ```text Subject: Final notice — invoice [number] Dear [Mr/Ms surname], Invoice [number] of [invoice date] for [EUR / USD / GBP / CHF] [amount] is still outstanding despite two reminders, most recently on [date]. Outstanding amount: [EUR / USD / GBP / CHF] [amount] Default interest ([x] days at 10.73%): [EUR / USD / GBP / CHF] [interest] Flat fee for recovery costs (EUR 40): [EUR / USD / GBP / CHF] [fee] Total now due: [EUR / USD / GBP / CHF] [total] Please transfer the total to IBAN [IBAN] by [date]. If we have not received payment by then, we will hand the claim over for collection, and any further costs will be added to your account. Kind regards, [your name] ``` ## What is different with clients abroad - **Fix the currency up front.** Euros, dollars, pounds or Swiss francs: put the currency in the contract. If you invoice in a foreign currency, you carry the exchange-rate risk until the money arrives. The reminder always uses the currency of the invoice. - **Allow for international transfers.** Outside the SEPA area, every payment is an international transfer with IBAN and BIC. It often takes longer, intermediary banks may deduct fees, and the holidays are different. Allow a few extra days before you send the next stage. - **No VAT ID, no reverse charge.** B2B services to companies outside the EU are usually not taxable in Germany or Austria, so the EU reverse-charge line drops out. One short line on why the invoice shows no VAT saves your client the follow-up question. - **Monaco, Andorra, San Marino and Vatican City pay in euros.** All four use the euro as their official currency but are not EU members. You invoice in euros and send the templates above. For VAT, Monaco counts as France: add your client's FR VAT ID and the reverse-charge line. - **Russia and Belarus: check sanctions first.** EU sanctions can restrict payments and claims. Before any contact, check whether the deal, the client and the payment route are affected, and get advice if in doubt. > My goal is to optimise and automate back-office tasks so that we founders can focus on what matters most. > > Automating back-office work with AI agents and AI integrations is the future – that's why I built Backbone! ## How Backbone does it Dunning on autopilot. In the app, or in a chat with ChatGPT, Claude and many more. 1. **Switch on dunning** Set it once. Runs by itself. 2. **Who's overdue?** One question, every open invoice. 3. **Send the reminder** You approve. Only then does it go out. ## Frequently asked questions ### Which language do I use for a client abroad? English, unless you agreed on something else. The three templates above work for any country; what matters is the invoice number, amount, deadline and bank details. ### How much interest can I charge? Under German law 10.52% a year, under Austrian law 10.73%. On top comes a EUR 40 flat fee (as of the second half of 2026). If your contract uses your client's law, their rules apply. ### Do I charge VAT on invoices to clients outside the EU? For B2B services, usually not: they are not taxable in Germany or Austria. Supplies of goods follow their own rules. ### How long does a transfer from abroad take? Usually a few business days, longer depending on the country and the intermediary bank. So set the new deadline in the reminder a week later rather than sooner. --- General information, not legal or tax advice and no review of your case. Details on providers and laws can change. For your case, follow your tax adviser. Checked on 18/10/2026 Sources: [§ 3a(2) UStG](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/ustg_1980/__3a.html) · [§ 3a(6) UStG 1994](https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/NormDokument.wxe?Abfrage=Bundesnormen&Gesetzesnummer=10004873&Paragraf=3a) · [Regulation (EU) No 833/2014 (Russia sanctions)](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32014R0833) · [§ 288 BGB](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bgb/__288.html) · [§ 456 and § 458 UGB](https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/NormDokument.wxe?Abfrage=Bundesnormen&Gesetzesnummer=10001702&Paragraf=456) · Deutsche Bundesbank (base rate) · OeNB (base rate) · [Directive 2011/7/EU](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32011L0007)