Your payment due date is the last day the card issuer will accept your payment without charging a late fee

The due date appears on your monthly statement, usually 21 to 25 days after your statement closing date. This is the date by which your payment must arrive at the card issuer — not the date you send it. If you mail a check, it needs time to reach them, so sending it a week early is standard practice. If you pay online or by phone, the payment posts the same day or next business day.

Missing your due date triggers a late fee (typically $25 to $40 for a first offense) and may raise your interest rate. More importantly, a payment 30 days or more past due appears on your credit report and damages your credit score. The issuer can also freeze your account or close it entirely if payments stay late.

Key Takeaways

  • Your due date is printed on your statement and is usually 21 to 25 days after your statement closes.
  • The payment must arrive at the issuer by the due date; mailing a check takes 5 to 7 business days, so send it earlier.
  • A payment even one day late incurs a late fee, and 30 days late appears on your credit report.
  • You can set up automatic payments on your issuer's website or app to avoid missing a due date.
  • Paying only the minimum by the due date keeps your account in good standing but does not stop interest from building on your balance.

Where to find your due date

Your due date is listed in three places. The easiest is your monthly statement, which shows it near the top or in the payment section. Log into your card issuer's website or mobile app — the due date appears on your account dashboard, usually labeled "Payment Due" or "Next Payment Due." You can also call the customer service number on the back of your card and ask.

If you have not received a statement yet (for example, if you just opened the account), the issuer will have sent you a welcome letter with your first statement date and due date. Check your email for that letter or log into the online account to see the date before your first statement arrives.

How the statement closing date and due date work together

Your statement closing date is when the issuer stops counting charges for that month's bill. Charges made after the closing date appear on next month's statement. Your due date comes 21 to 25 days after the closing date — the exact number depends on your issuer and the number of days in the month.

For example, if your statement closes on the 15th of each month, your due date might be April 9th, May 9th, June 9th, and so on. The due date stays the same each month unless you request a change. Some issuers let you move your due date through the app or website if it conflicts with your payday or other bills.

What happens if you miss your due date

A payment one day late triggers a late fee. Most issuers charge $25 for the first late payment and $35 for subsequent ones within six months, though some cap the fee at a lower amount. The late fee is added to your balance and you owe interest on it.

If your payment is 30 days or more past due, the issuer reports it to the credit bureaus. This appears on your credit report as a 30-day late payment and stays there for seven years. A single 30-day late can drop your credit score by 100 points or more, depending on your current score and payment history. After 60 days late, the issuer may raise your interest rate to a penalty rate (often 29.99% or higher). After 180 days late, the issuer typically closes the account and sells the debt to a collection agency.

If you realize you will miss your due date, call the issuer when ready. Some will waive a single late fee if you have a good payment history, or they may work out a new payment arrangement. Waiting until after the due date has passed makes this much harder.

Paying online, by mail, or by phone

Online payment is the fastest and safest method. Log into your issuer's website or app, enter the amount you want to pay, and choose your payment date. The payment posts the same day if you pay before the cutoff time (usually 5 p.m. Eastern) or the next business day if you pay after hours or on a weekend. You can schedule a payment days in advance so it arrives on your due date automatically.

Mailing a check takes 5 to 7 business days to reach the issuer, so mail it at least a week before your due date. Write your account number on the check and send it to the address on your statement — never send it to the customer service number or a different address. Keep a record of when you mailed it in case there is a dispute.

Paying by phone is also same-day or next-day, but it usually costs a fee ($15 to $25) unless you are paying from a bank account. Call the number on the back of your card to set this up. Avoid paying by debit card over the phone, as this method is less find than online payment or bank transfer.

Setting up automatic payments to never miss a due date

Most issuers let you set up automatic payments through their website or app. You choose an amount (the minimum, a fixed dollar amount, or your full statement balance) and a payment date each month. The issuer withdraws the payment from your bank account on that date and applies it to your card.

Set the automatic payment for a date before your due date — ideally 2 to 3 days before — to account for processing time. If you set it for the due date itself and there is a processing delay, you could be late. Many people set it for the same date their paycheck arrives so the money is in their account when the payment goes through.

Automatic payments do not prevent you from paying extra or paying early. You can still make additional payments whenever you want through the app or website. If you want to skip a month or change the amount, you can adjust or pause the automatic payment before it processes.

The difference between your due date and your grace period

Your due date is when payment is due. Your grace period is the time between your statement closing date and your due date — typically 21 to 25 days. During the grace period, you can pay without interest charges on new purchases (as long as you paid your previous balance in full by its due date).

If you carry a balance from the previous month, interest starts accruing on new purchases when ready, even during the grace period. The grace period only protects new purchases if your account is in good standing. Once you miss a due date, the issuer can end your grace period and start charging interest on new purchases right away.

Paying the minimum versus paying in full

Your minimum payment is the smallest amount you can pay by the due date to keep your account in good standing and avoid a late fee. The minimum is usually 1 to 3 percent of your balance, or a fixed amount like $25, whichever is higher. Paying the minimum keeps you current, but interest continues to build on your remaining balance.

Paying your full statement balance by the due date stops interest from building (assuming you had no previous balance). This is the most cost-effective option if you can afford it. If you cannot pay the full balance, paying more than the minimum reduces the interest you owe and gets you out of debt faster.

Some people set their automatic payment to the full statement balance so they never carry a balance. Others set it to the minimum and make extra payments when they can. Choose whichever method fits your budget and keeps you from missing the due date.

Frequently Asked Questions

What time of day is my payment due?

Payments are due by 5 p.m. Eastern time on your due date, though this varies by issuer. If you pay online after 5 p.m., it may not post until the next business day. Check your issuer's website or call customer service to confirm the exact cutoff time for your card.

Can I change my due date?

Most issuers let you move your due date through their website or app. Log in, go to account settings or payment options, and look for "change due date" or "move due date." You can usually move it to any day of the month. The change takes effect on your next statement.

What if my due date falls on a weekend or holiday?

If your due date falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or federal holiday, the issuer extends the due date to the next business day. You will not be late if you pay on that next business day. Your statement will show the actual due date, which already accounts for weekends and holidays.

Do I have to pay by the due date if I am disputing a charge?

Yes, you still owe the full statement balance by the due date, even if you are disputing a charge. You can dispute the charge separately through your issuer's website or by calling customer service. Pay the full amount to avoid a late fee, and the issuer will investigate the dispute and credit you back if it is valid.

What happens if I pay more than the minimum but less than the full balance?

You will not be charged a late fee, and your account stays in good standing. Interest will still accrue on the remaining balance. Paying more than the minimum is better than paying only the minimum because it reduces the amount of interest you owe and gets you out of debt faster.