Interest on unpaid invoices in Oregon: 9% a year if no rate was agreed; the most you can set depends on the deal

Oregon's rate when no rate was agreed

9% a year. 9% a year on all moneys after they become due when no rate was agreed; an open account bears interest from the date of its last item.

• “The rate of interest for the following transactions, if the parties have not otherwise agreed to a rate of interest, is nine percent per annum and is payable on: (a) All moneys after they become due; but open accounts bear interest from the date of the last item thereof.” — ORS 82.010(1), read November 6, 2026

The most you can set in Oregon

For a homeowner: Loans of $50,000 or less: the greater of 12% or the Federal Reserve Bank's 90-day commercial paper discount rate + 5%. It depends: see ORS 82.010.

For a business customer: Business or agricultural loans of $50,000 or less: the same formula (greater of 12% or discount rate + 5%).

How the most you can set moves: Usury cap = greater of 12% or 90-day commercial paper discount rate at the Federal Reserve Bank + 5% (ORS 82.010(3)).

• “(b) Make a loan of $50,000 or less, except a loan made under paragraph (a) of this subsection, at an annual rate of interest exceeding the greater of 12 percent, or five percent in excess of the discount rate on 90-day commercial paper in effect at the Federal Reserve Bank in the Federal Reserve district where the person making the loan is located, on the date the loan or the initial advance of funds under the loan is made.” — ORS 82.010(3)(b), read November 6, 2026
• “(a) Make a business or agricultural loan of $50,000 or less at an annual rate of interest exceeding the greater of 12 percent, or five percent in excess of the discount rate, including any surcharge on the discount rate, on 90-day commercial paper in effect at the Federal Reserve Bank in the Federal Reserve district where the person making the loan is located, on the date the loan or the initial advance of funds under the loan is made;” — ORS 82.010(3)(a), read November 6, 2026

Late fees in Oregon

What the text says: Retail installment contracts / retail charge agreements for consumer goods and services: delinquency charges only if the contract provides, and they must be reasonable — no number set (motor vehicle contracts: 5% after 10 days).

• “the holder of any retail installment contract or retail charge agreement may not collect any delinquency or collection charges, including any attorney's fee and court costs and disbursements, unless the contract or charge agreement so provides. In such cases, the charges shall be reasonable” — ORS 83.100(1), read November 6, 2026
• “a contract, other than a retail charge agreement or an instrument reflecting a sale made pursuant thereto, entered into or performed in this state for a retail installment transaction.” — ORS 83.010 (definition of "Retail installment contract"), read November 6, 2026
• “work, labor or services of any kind when purchased primarily for personal, family or household use and not for commercial or business use” — ORS 83.010 (definition of "Services"), read November 6, 2026
• “The holder of a retail installment contract, if the contract so provides, may collect a delinquency charge on each installment in default for a period of 10 days or longer.” — ORS 83.590 (motor vehicle retail installment contracts), read November 6, 2026

Does Oregon want it agreed in advance?

Agreed in advance: yes, in the cases below. Delinquency or collection charges may not be collected 'unless the contract or charge agreement so provides' (consumer retail installment contracts / charge agreements). The 9% legal rate applies when the parties have not agreed a rate.

• “the holder of any retail installment contract or retail charge agreement may not collect any delinquency or collection charges, including any attorney's fee and court costs and disbursements, unless the contract or charge agreement so provides. In such cases, the charges shall be reasonable” — ORS 83.100(1), read November 6, 2026
• “The rate of interest for the following transactions, if the parties have not otherwise agreed to a rate of interest, is nine percent per annum and is payable on: (a) All moneys after they become due; but open accounts bear interest from the date of the last item thereof.” — ORS 82.010(1), read November 6, 2026

Homeowners and businesses in Oregon

Oregon's retail installment rules on delinquency charges cover only goods/services bought 'primarily for personal, family or household use and not for commercial or business use'.

• “work, labor or services of any kind when purchased primarily for personal, family or household use and not for commercial or business use” — ORS 83.010 (definition of "Services"), read November 6, 2026

Prompt payment on private construction in Oregon

What the text says: 1.5% a month (or a higher agreed rate) on late progress payments owner → original contractor, and on payments to subcontractors/suppliers delayed more than 7 days after the contractor is paid. Private commercial construction contracts; excludes low-rise residential dwellings and public contracts. Does not apply to buildings under the Low-Rise Residential Dwelling Code (houses), public contracts, or certain income-restricted housing.

• “If an owner or a person designated by the owner as responsible for making progress payments on a construction contract does not make a timely payment under this section, the owner shall pay the original contractor interest on the unpaid balance at the rate of one and one-half percent a month or fraction of a month, or at a higher rate as the parties to the construction contract may agree.” — ORS 701.625(11) (2023 edition), read November 6, 2026
• “If a progress or final payment to a subcontractor or material supplier is delayed by more than seven days after receipt of a progress or final payment by an original contractor or subcontractor, the original contractor or subcontractor shall pay its subcontractor or material supplier interest beginning on the eighth day, except during periods of time during which payment is withheld pursuant to subsection (4) or (5) of this section, at the rate of one and one-half percent a month or a fraction of a month on the unpaid balance or at such higher rate as the parties agree.” — ORS 701.630(6) (2023 edition), read November 6, 2026
• “ORS 701.620 to 701.640 do not apply to: (1) A contract for the construction, alteration, repair, maintenance, moving or demolition of a building that is subject to the Low-Rise Residential Dwelling Code; (2) A public contract under ORS 279.835 to 279.855 or ORS chapter 279A, 279B or 279C;” — ORS 701.645 (2023 edition), read November 6, 2026

Work out a late charge in Oregon

Starts at Oregon's 9%, the rate when none was agreed, not a maximum.

What was not checked for Oregon

• Oregon's cap (ORS 82.010(3)) is worded for loans; the text does not say how it applies to a service invoice.
• The exceptions in ORS 82.025 were not read.
• Oregon's prompt-payment text was read in the 2023 edition of the statutes, not on the current web page.

Check Oregon's own text

Before you charge: read ORS 82.010(1) and the other Oregon texts quoted on this page, or ask a lawyer. As of November 6, 2026.

This is a plain-words summary of each state's own laws as of November 6, 2026, not legal advice. Rules have exceptions. Check the state's own text, linked on every state's page, or a lawyer before you charge a late fee or interest.

Compare Oregon with every state's answer, or with its neighbours just below.

Next door to Oregon

• California: 10% if none agreed, depends by agreement (two answers)
• Idaho: 12% if none agreed, no general cap found
• Nevada: floats if none agreed, depends by agreement
• Washington: 12% if none agreed, depends by agreement

Official sources for Oregon

• ORS 82.010(1) — read November 6, 2026
• ORS 83.100(1) — read November 6, 2026
• ORS 701.625(11) (2023 edition) — read November 6, 2026

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