How long do you have to collect an unpaid B2B invoice?

In most US states you have roughly four years to sue on an unpaid commercial invoice, measured from the first missed payment or breach—but the window that actually matters is far shorter. The legal deadline tells you when a court will still hear you. It says nothing about whether the money is still there to collect. By the time an account nears its statute of limitations, the odds of recovering a dollar have collapsed. The real question isn't "how long can I wait," it's "how long should I."

TL;DR: Most states give you about four years to sue on a commercial debt from the first unpaid invoice, though it varies by state and by whether the contract is written or oral, and international timelines vary by country. But recovery odds fall sharply every month an account ages—so the best practice is placing accounts at 90–180 days past due, not waiting for the legal deadline.

This article is general information, not legal advice—limits vary by jurisdiction and by the terms of your contract, so confirm your specific deadline with a licensed attorney.

How long is the legal deadline to collect a commercial debt?

For most US commercial receivables, the statute of limitations runs about four years from the date of the first unpaid invoice or the breach of contract. It varies—by state, and by whether your agreement is a written contract or an oral one, with written contracts generally getting a longer window. International accounts follow the debtor's own country's rules, which can be shorter or longer than the US norm. The clock usually starts on the first missed payment, and in some cases a partial payment or written acknowledgment of the debt can reset it. Because those details swing the answer, treat "about four years" as a planning rule, not a legal ruling—confirm your exact deadline with counsel.

Why does the practical window matter more than the legal one?

Because a delinquent dollar loses value every month it sits. The legal deadline is a cliff edge; collectibility is a slope that starts falling the day the invoice goes unpaid. Debtors move, restructure, take on new creditors, spend down cash, or quietly wind down. Contact information goes stale, the people who signed the order form leave, and the account stops feeling urgent to the debtor. A balance that was a straightforward collect at 90 days can become a fight at 18 months and a long shot at three years—long before any statute has run. Waiting until the legal deadline is the single most expensive mistake a creditor makes.

When should you place an account for collection?

The sweet spot is 90 to 180 days past due. That's late enough that your own reminders and internal follow-up have clearly failed, and early enough that the debtor still has assets, still remembers the debt, and can still be found. Placing in that window puts a professional in front of the debtor while recovery is still likely—not years later when you're racing a deadline. A few signals that it's time to place:

• Your invoices and reminders have gone unanswered for 60–90 days.
• The debtor has broken a promise to pay, or gone quiet after previously responding.
• Payments have stopped entirely and the account is 90+ days past due.
• You're hearing about the debtor's financial trouble from other vendors.

For a fuller breakdown of the timing signals, see when to place an account with a collection agency.

How does account age affect your odds of getting paid?

Sharply, and in one direction. The same balance is worth far more early than late—a dollar you place at 90 days is worth dramatically more than the same dollar chased at a year, and more still than one nearing the legal deadline. Our own results reflect it: on claims over $5,000 placed under 12 months past due, we recover on 85.3% of accounts, with a 23.6-day average time to resolution. Age isn't a minor factor at the margin—it's the biggest single variable in whether you get paid.

Is it too late if my invoice is already a year or more past due?

Usually not—older doesn't mean impossible. We've recovered accounts up to four years past due, and because we work strictly on contingency—no recovery, no fee—placing an aged account costs you nothing to try. The honest caveat is that the odds are meaningfully better the earlier you act, so if you've been sitting on a balance, the right move is to place it now rather than wait another quarter. If it genuinely can't be collected, we'll tell you straight. See how we work these claims on our services page.

Frequently asked questions

How long do I legally have to collect an unpaid invoice?

In most US states, roughly four years from the first unpaid invoice or breach, though it varies by state and by whether your contract is written or oral. International timelines depend on the debtor's country. This is general information, not legal advice—confirm your exact deadline with a licensed attorney.

When does the statute of limitations clock start?

Generally on the date of the first missed payment or the breach of contract. In some jurisdictions a partial payment or a written acknowledgment of the debt can restart the clock. Because the rules vary, verify how they apply to your specific account with counsel.

If I still have years left legally, why place the account now?

Because recovery odds fall every month an account ages—a delinquent dollar is worth far more at 90 days than at a year. The best practice is placing at 90 to 180 days past due, while the debtor can still be found and still has assets, rather than waiting for the legal deadline.

Can you still collect an invoice that's several years old?

Often, yes. We've recovered accounts up to four years past due, and on contingency it costs nothing to try—no recovery, no fee. Odds are best early, so place aged accounts now rather than waiting. Get a free evaluation within one business day.