Their own payment-practices filing · gov.uk
How long does Harpercollins Publishers Limited take to pay its suppliers?
Self-reported figure from their statutory filing. How this is compiled.
On the public register · Companies House
Company record
- Status
- Active
- Type
- Private Limited Company
- Incorporated
- 29 Nov 1949
- Registered office
- 1 ROBROYSTON GATE, GLASGOW, G33 1JN
Terms vs reality
Stated terms: 0–120 days. Reported average: 29.
At a glance
The key figures
Vs peers · latest reported averages
The pattern
Holding steady
Average days to pay across their last 6 statutory reports.
Where their supplier invoices land · latest period
The read · computed from their figures
Harpercollins Publishers Limited has filed 18 statutory payment periods (earliest H2 2017). Their latest report puts the average at 29 days against stated terms of 0–120 days.
The pattern is steady — their reported average moves within about ±2 days period to period.
In the latest period 1% of invoices were paid outside their agreed terms, and 8% landed 61+ days out.
In their own words · from the filing
Standard payment terms
We generally pay author expenses on immediate terms, hence 0 days as shortest standard term. We may also pay immediately to secure goods or services for events etc. Longest payment terms are 12 weeks from end of month so have used 120 days in this field since it requires a number to be entered.
Dispute resolution
Any invoice that is in dispute is referred to the relevant buyer/approver. AP may check in on progress of the dispute but this must be resolved between the supplier and their HarperCollins Publishers contact. AP does not have the appropriate knowledge of whether the goods or services have been delivered to the expected quality and therefore is not able to resolve disputes.
Other information
1) Most frequently used payment terms are 30 days from invoice date 2) Exceptions are made for author expenses which are generally processed as immediate payment terms 3) Maximum payment terms – a. POs quote 90 days but the standard at vendor creation is 30 days b. We make payments on account to some key suppliers. c. Occasionally, we may make immediate payments for various reasons e.g. to secure goods, bookings, venues and other items for author tours or other events. 4) Some suppliers e.g. utilities are paid by Direct Debit. Corresponding invoices are marked as paid when the funds are deducted from our account, not when the invoice is received. 5) When calculating the average number of days from receipt to payment we have calculated from scan date to payment date plus an ad
Every statutory report on record
Most recent first.
| Period | Avg days | Outside terms | 61+ days | Filed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| H1 2026 | 29 | 1% | 8% | 7 Jul 2026 |
| H2 2025 | 29 | 1% | 7% | 27 Jan 2026 |
| H1 2025 | 28 | 0% | 7% | 11 Jul 2025 |
| H2 2024 | 26 | 1% | 4% | 24 Jan 2025 |
| H1 2024 | 27 | 1% | 5% | 14 Jul 2024 |
| H2 2023 | 29 | 1% | 6% | 29 Jan 2024 |
| H1 2023 | 30 | 1% | 7% | 28 Jul 2023 |
| H1 2023 | 30 | 1% | 8% | 30 Jan 2023 |
| H1 2022 | 29 | 1% | 7% | 1 Aug 2022 |
| H2 2021 | 29 | 1% | 9% | 25 Jan 2022 |
| H1 2021 | 27 | 1% | 7% | 23 Jul 2021 |
| H2 2020 | 29 | 1% | 8% | 26 Jan 2021 |
| H1 2020 | 27 | 1% | 7% | 21 Jul 2020 |
| H2 2019 | 30 | 1% | 8% | 30 Jan 2020 |
| H1 2019 | 29 | 1% | 7% | 29 Jul 2019 |
| H2 2018 | 36 | 46% | 17% | 30 Jan 2019 |
| H1 2018 | 33 | 6% | 9% | 27 Jul 2018 |
| H2 2017 | 37 | 4% | 16% | 29 Jan 2018 |
Working-capital effect
What a 29-day cycle ties up
Illustrative. On a hypothetical £12k/month account, at a 29-day vs a 0-day payment cycle.
Late Payment Act. The Late Payment of Commercial Debts Act lets a supplier charge statutory interest and fixed compensation on invoices paid past agreed terms. Work out what a late invoice is worth → Whether it applies depends on your contract — check with an adviser.
Quick answers
Are they getting slower or faster?
What's their typical pay point?
Can I see what this means for my invoices?
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How UK payment reporting works
What is a Payment Practices Report?
What does "paid outside agreed terms" mean?
How often is this data updated?
Is this official government data?
How this is compiled. Built from official records only: Companies House and the gov.uk payment-practices service. The payment figures are self-reported — companies over the size threshold must file them by law and the board signs them off. No credit-agency data. The numbers are theirs; the plain-English read is ours. This is information compiled from public records under the Open Government Licence v3.0 — not a credit rating and not advice.
The 31-day comparison figure is the median across 6,185 companies with a current statutory report — every sector pooled, not an average of sector medians (how the figure is built).
Report PL-SC027389 · latest period to 28 Jun 2026
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