About the PTRS

Administered by the Payment Times Reporting Regulator, the PTRS requires large businesses and certain government enterprises to publicly report on:

• the payment terms they offer small business suppliers
• how quickly they pay small business invoices, and
• key information about their payment performance.

Recent enhancements to the PTRS have strengthened transparency and accountability by requiring more detailed reporting on payment performance and recognising businesses that consistently pay small business suppliers promptly (Fast Small Business Payers). It also provides greater visibility of payment practices, helping you make more informed decisions about potential customers.

How the PTRS can help your business

The Payment Times Reports Register provides information about the payment terms typically offered by reporting entities, which may assist you when discussing or negotiating payment terms with prospective customers.

The Register can help you:

• understand how quickly a large business typically pays its small business suppliers
• compare the payment practices of different large customers
• view the payment terms a large business typically offers small business suppliers and use this information when negotiating payment terms
• identify businesses recognised as Fast Small Business Payers, and
• have better-informed conversations about payment expectations before commencing work.

Tip: Before agreeing to work with a new large customer, search the Register to better understand their reported payment practices and payment performance. 

Tips to help you get paid on time

Providing an accurate invoice and following up before payment is due can help prevent delays.

Before you send an invoice

• Contact the accounts team to find out what information they need to process your invoice.
• Check your invoice carefully to make sure it includes all required information and that the details match the purchase order, contract or delivery receipt.
• Consider using e-invoicing to help reduce manual processing and invoicing errors. 

After you send an invoice:

• Confirm that the invoice has been received and accepted, and if there is a problem, addressing it early can help prevent a payment delay.
• Around 10 days before payment is due, check that the invoice has been processed and is scheduled for payment.
• If payment is 1 or 2 days late, contact the accounts team to ask whether anything is preventing payment and what you can do to resolve the issue.

What to do if you have not been paid

If you have followed up and still have not been paid, our Dispute Support tool can help you understand your options and decide what to do next.