Glossary · Austria and Germany
Remaining term of a receivable
Remaining term is the time left until a specified date, such as payment maturity. It differs from collection duration and the time remaining before limitation. The figure is ambiguous without a clearly defined reference date.
Distinguish the concepts
Thirty-day payment terms, thirty days overdue and thirty days of expected handling are different facts. Instalments may each have their own date. Record extensions or deferrals and their basis instead of merely overwriting the original due date. This preserves the contractual and subsequent payment history.
Jurisdiction and scope
In Austria and Germany, agreement and applicable rules determine when performance can be demanded. Invoice age does not automatically establish the start of default. Limitation requires its own assessment of commencement and relevant intervening factors. A due date alone also cannot predict when money will actually arrive.
Illustrative business example
One invoice falls due at month-end; another is two months overdue. Accounts classifies the first by remaining payment term and the second by age of arrears. It records upcoming instalment dates separately. This avoids a misleading positive term value hiding a long-overdue item.
Common questions
Is remaining term the same as limitation?
No. Maturity, contract duration and limitation have different reference points and consequences.
Does it predict collection duration?
No. Handling, responses, service and financial capacity follow a different timeline.
What should be stored?
Original terms, effective changes, actual payments and the reference date. Every metric needs a clear definition.
Related topics
Sources and basis
- Deutschland: BGB 271
- Österreich: Erfüllungszeit
- Engagement, services, remuneration and cooperation: incaseof.law terms
Content reviewed on 23 September 2026. Procedural information and our contractual terms are separate foundations. The individual case remains decisive.
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