How to politely request late payment from a local government client

Late payment from a local government client usually comes down to their process, not bad faith. Here's who pays, when, what tends to hold payment up, and a polite reminder you can send today.

Who pays, and when

A department manager orders the work. The finance team pays once it's approved. Most pay through a supplier portal on standard terms, often 30 days.

Why payment runs late

Payments stall if you're not registered as a supplier or the order wasn't raised properly.

Tips for chasing a local government client

• Ask for the order or PO number before starting work.
• Register on their supplier portal early. It can take time.
• Keep your department contact in the loop. They can chase internally.

Example reminder email

Subject: Quick reminder: invoice [number] Hi [first name], I hope all's well. Invoice [number] for [amount] was due on [date]. If it's already on its way, thank you, and please ignore this. I've included the order number and the department that requested the work. Could you check that a purchase order has been raised for this work? You can pay here: [payment link] Thanks, [Your name]