# How to pay supplier invoices, and earn points on them

Rules checked 2026-09-29. By the RewardsPilot team.

Unless a date is agreed, a business must pay a supplier's invoice within 30 days, and agreed terms are usually no longer than 60 days. Late payers can be charged statutory interest of 8% plus the Bank of England base rate. Paid through RewardsPilot, each invoice earns 4 points per £1.

## When the supplier invoice is due

- Unless a payment date is agreed, the customer must pay within 30 days of receiving the invoice or the goods or service, whichever is later.
- An agreed payment date must usually be within 60 days for business-to-business transactions, or 30 days for public authorities. A longer period can be agreed if it is fair to both businesses.
- A supplier paid late can charge statutory interest of 8% plus the Bank of England base rate, and a fixed debt recovery charge of £40, £70 or £100 depending on the size of the debt.

## What the invoice must show

A VAT invoice between VAT-registered businesses must show a unique invoice number, both businesses' names and addresses, a description of what is charged, the supply date, the invoice date, the amounts, the VAT, and the total. Pay against the supplier's invoice number.

## Ways to pay the supplier

- Bank transfer to the supplier's account on the invoice.
- The supplier's own payment link or card terminal, where they offer one.
- Through RewardsPilot, which pays the supplier's account on the business's behalf.

Source: GOV.UK, "Late commercial payments: charging interest and debt recovery" (https://www.gov.uk/late-commercial-payments-interest-debt-recovery); GOV.UK, "Invoicing and taking payment from customers" (https://www.gov.uk/invoicing-and-taking-payment-from-customers). Checked 2026-09-29.

## Paying the supplier invoice through RewardsPilot

1. Submit the supplier invoice in the member portal with its amount, reference and pay-by date.
2. RewardsPilot invoices the business. The invoice is due one day before the bill's pay-by date, so the supplier is paid on time.
3. RewardsPilot pays the supplier on the business's behalf, using the reference on the supplier invoice.
4. When RewardsPilot's invoice is paid and clears, 4 RewardsPilot points per £1 of the supplier invoice are credited. They never expire, transfer to airline miles, or sell back for cash at 3%.

| Supplier invoice | RewardsPilot invoice (bill + 20% VAT on our service) | Points earned | Or sold back for cash |
|---|---|---|---|
| £6,000 | £7,200 | 24,000 | £180 |

## The VAT on RewardsPilot's invoice

RewardsPilot's invoice is for its own service, Corporate Membership and Business Services Ecosystem, and VAT is applied to the full taxable supply value.

Under the specialist tax advice and sign-off obtained for the approved structure, for VAT-registered businesses using the services for taxable business activities, the VAT is intended to be recoverable through the normal VAT return process, subject to the business's individual VAT position and the normal VAT recovery rules. In those circumstances it is principally a cash-flow timing consideration rather than a long-term additional cost.

This is not tax advice. Each business and its accountant should satisfy themselves that VAT recovery is appropriate to their circumstances, and RewardsPilot will speak directly with your accountant.

## Questions

### When is my supplier invoice due?

Unless a payment date is agreed, the customer must pay within 30 days of receiving the invoice or the goods or service, whichever is later.

### How many points does a £6,000 supplier invoice earn?

24,000 RewardsPilot points, at 4 per £1. RewardsPilot's invoice is £7,200: the £6,000 supplier invoice plus £1,200 VAT on RewardsPilot's service. Sold back for cash, the points are worth £180.

### Does the supplier still get paid on time?

Yes. RewardsPilot's invoice is due one day before the pay-by date, and RewardsPilot pays the supplier using the reference on the supplier invoice.

### Is the VAT on RewardsPilot's invoice recoverable?

Under the specialist tax advice and sign-off obtained for the approved structure, for VAT-registered businesses using the services for taxable business activities, the VAT is intended to be recoverable through the normal VAT return process, subject to the business's individual VAT position and the normal VAT recovery rules. In those circumstances it is principally a cash-flow timing consideration rather than a long-term additional cost.

Rules are quoted from GOV.UK and can change; check your own bill or account for your deadline.

Apply: https://www.rewardspilot.co.uk/apply · Request a call: https://www.rewardspilot.co.uk/request-a-call

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Last reviewed: 2026-09-29
Contact: info@rewardspilot.co.uk · 0161 850 2526
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