# Payment reminder to a client in Switzerland: 3 English templates > Your business is in Germany or Austria, your client is in Switzerland, and the invoice is still open? Here are three English reminders ready to copy: payment reminder, second reminder and final notice, with amounts in Swiss francs, no EU reverse-charge line and your bank details in the right place. Source: https://back-bone.io/en/blog/mahnung-schweiz 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 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 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 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 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 CHF [amount] is still outstanding despite two reminders, most recently on [date]. Outstanding amount: CHF [amount] Default interest ([x] days at 10.52%): CHF [interest] Flat fee for recovery costs (EUR 40): CHF [fee] Total now due: 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 CHF [amount] is still outstanding despite two reminders, most recently on [date]. Outstanding amount: CHF [amount] Default interest ([x] days at 10.73%): CHF [interest] Flat fee for recovery costs (EUR 40): CHF [fee] Total now due: 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 in Switzerland - **Put a fixed date on the invoice.** Under Swiss law, a client without a fixed payment date is only in default once you send a reminder. So write "payable by 30 November 2026" instead of "payable within 30 days". Then the deadline is clear for both sides. - **Francs or euros.** The invoice can run in Swiss francs or, if you agree on it, in euros. Euros from Switzerland arrive by SEPA. Francs are an international transfer with IBAN and BIC, and your bank converts them at the day's rate. - **The EUR 40 is unknown there.** Swiss law has no flat recovery fee. If the fee and your interest rate are already in your quote and terms, the second reminder does not surprise your client. - **No VAT ID, no reverse charge.** Switzerland is not in the EU. B2B services to Swiss companies 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 you the follow-up question. - **German works too.** In German-speaking Switzerland you can just as well send the reminder in German. In the French- and Italian-speaking parts, English is the safe choice unless you write French or Italian. > 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 ### Can I send a client in Switzerland a payment reminder in English? Yes. If you have been writing to each other in English, an English reminder is the natural choice. With clients in German-speaking Switzerland, German works too. ### 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. ### Why a fixed payment date? Without a fixed date, a Swiss client is only in default once you send a reminder. A date like "payable by 30 November 2026" makes clear when the payment is late. ### Which currency do I use in the reminder? The currency of the invoice. If you invoiced in francs, you remind in francs; if in euros, in euros, and a SEPA transfer does the job. --- 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: [Swiss Code of Obligations (OR), Art. 102–106](https://fedlex.data.admin.ch/eli/cc/27/317_321_377) · [§ 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) · [§ 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)