PAYTERMS – ABBREVIATIONS FOR TERMS OF PAYMENT

quently used in international trade, which can be em-

ployed when the contract of sale to which they relate

makes this appropriate;

Recommends that the abbreviations shown in the list of

“PAYTERMS” be used in such contracts.

At the fifteenth session of the Working Party, representa-

tives attended from:

Austria; Belgium; Bulgaria; Canada; Czechoslovakia;

Denmark; Finland; France; German Democratic Repub-

lic; Germany, Federal Republic of; Hungary; Italy; Neth-

erlands; Norway; Poland; Romania; Spain; Sweden;

Switzerland; Turkey; Union of Soviet Socialist Repub-

lics; United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern

Ireland; and United States of America. Representatives

from Japan, Nigeria and Thailand participated under

Article 11 of the Commission’s terms of reference.

The following specialized agencies and other

intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations

were also represented:

Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organization

(IMCO); General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade

(GATT); European Economic Community (EEC); Cus-

toms Co-operation Council (CCC); International Cham-

ber of Commerce (ICC); International Organization for

Standardization (ISO); International Union of Railways

(UIC); International Chamber of Shipping (ICS); Inter-

national Civil Airports Association (ICAA); and Interna-

tional Railway Transport Committee (CIT).

I. BACKGROUND

1. An important part of a contract of sale is the condi-

tions under which the buyer will extinguish his debt to the

seller: the terms of payment. Lack of precision in terms

of payment and different interpretations of such terms are

known to give rise to disputes between trade partners. For

this reason the ECE Working Party on Facilitation of

International Trade Procedures, when discussing its ini-

tial comprehensive programme of work in 1972, agreed

that there was a need for standardization in the field of

terms of payment and agreed to initiate work in this area

by preparing an inventory of and defining the most

customary terms relating to payments in international

trade. Austria, Belgium and Romania, later joined by

France, agreed to act as rapporteurs for the project.

The Working Party on Facilitation of International Trade

Procedures, a subsidiary body of the United Nations

Economic Commission for Europe, included the follow-

ing project in its first comprehensive programme of work:

“024 Prepare an inventory of and define customary

terms relating to payments in international sales”.

In 1977, facilitation experts from Austria, Belgium and

Romania – later joined by a facilitation expert from

France – initiated preparatory work for a draft recommen-

dation concerning terms of payment. Their proposal was

presented to the twelfth session of the Working Party in

September 1980 and was adopted at that session.

As a result of consultations between the interested delega-

tions and the secretariats of the Economic Commission

for Europe (ECE) and the United Nations Commission on

International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), which took place

in 1981, a few drafting changes were made in the Recom-

mendation; these changes were endorsed by the Working

Party at its fifteenth session in March 1982, and are

reflected in the present text.

At that session, the Working Party requested the ECE

secretariat to make the necessary arrangements for bring-

ing up to date the list of terms of payment when required

– e.g. to review the list in order to make the terms, their

descriptions and abbreviations compatible with any har-

monized standard terms of payment in international trade

that might be developed under the auspices of a world-wide

forum for international trade law, such as the United

Nations Commission on International Trade Law.

RECOMMENDATION

The Working Party on Facilitation of International Trade

Procedures,

Considering that the standardization of terms of payment

will contribute to the simplification of international trade

procedures;

Noting that no world-wide international forum for trade

law has yet established such terms of payment;

Draws attention to the “PAYTERMS” corresponding to

those conditions of payment which are the most fre-

Recommendation No.17 adopted by the Working Party on Facilitation

of International Trade Procedures, Geneva, March 1982

ECE/TRADE/142 [Edition 96.1]

PAYTERMS – ABBREVIATIONS FOR

TERMS OF PAYMENT

Recommendation 17

113

Recommendation 17

PAYTERMS – Abbreviations for Terms of Payment

114

Recommendation 17

2. One reason for this action was the continuous exten-

sion of the use of the United Nations Layout Key for trade

documents. The space for indicating terms of payment on

the Layout Key was limited, making the use of concise

expressions essential. Another reason was that automatic

data processing for contracts of sales, orders, confirma-

tion of orders, invoices, offers, etc. required a code for

terms of payment and that the standardization of the main

terms would help in devising such a code.

3. Agreement on the Recommendation was reached by

consensus. The delegation of the United States of America

stated, as mentioned in the Report of the twenty-second

session of the relevant preparatory body – the Group of

Experts on Automatic Data Processing and Coding – that

“PAYTERMS” would probably not be used by United

States banks unless specifically requested by the parties to

a transaction.

4. Shortly after the adoption of the present Recommen-

dation in 1980, the ECE secretariat was officially notified

about the content of General Assembly resolution 34/142

giving wider responsibilities for the co-ordination of

work in the field of international trade law to the United

Nations Commission on International Trade Law

(UNCITRAL) in Vienna. Consultations between the

secretariats of the two Commissions and the rapporteurs

resulted in some minor changes in the text of the Recom-

mendation.

5. UNCITRAL may, in the future, initiate work on

terms of payment used in international trade in order to

establish standard terms whereby the conditions would be

described. Their use would result in harmonization of

international trade law through the development of stan-

dardized trade practices. Should this occur, the Working

Party on Facilitation of International Trade Procedures

might decide to update the present Recommendation.

II. SCOPE

6. This Recommendation provides abbreviations for

certain terms of payment, referred to as “PAYTERMS”,

for use in international trade transactions as appropriate.

III. FIELD OF APPLICATION

7. The “PAYTERMS” apply to commercial transac-

tions relating to the provision of goods and/or services.

IV. TERMINOLOGY

8. For the purpose of this Recommendation the follow-

ing definitions apply:

Terms of payment: Requirements which must be fulfilled

in order that a payment may be considered a valid means

of extinguishing the debt to which it relates, and normally

including statements regarding time-limit for payment,

method of payment (whether or not involving a guaran-

tee), the amount to be paid and the place where payment

should be effected; it is understood that the terms do not

prejudge the legal interpretation of these statements.

9. For the purpose of the provisions set out under 2.1

and 2.2, the following expressions, defined in the ICC

Uniform Rules for Collections, apply:

Collection: The handling by banks, on instructions

received, of documents as defined below, in order:

(a) to obtain acceptance and/or, as the case may be,

payment, or

(b) to deliver commercial documents against accep-

tance and/or, as the case may be, against payment,

tions.

Financial documents: Bills of exchange, promissory

notes, cheques, payment receipts or other similar instru-

ments used for obtaining the payment of money.

Commercial documents: Invoices, shipping documents,

documents of title or other similar documents, or any

other documents whatsoever not being financial docu-

ments.

V. REFERENCES

ECE/FAL REC No. 7 “Numerical representation of dates,

time and periods of time”;

ISO 2014-1976 “Writing of calendar dates in all-numeric

form”;

ECE/UNCTAD Trade Data Elements Directory

(UNTDED);

ICC Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary

Credits (UCP);

ICC Uniform Rules for Collections (UCR).

VI. EXPLANATION OF SYMBOLS

10. The following symbols are used in connection with

PAYTERMS:

“M” represents month or months (mois); it may be

replaced by the symbols “D” or “J” which represent day

or days (jour/jours).

“AAAA” represents calendar year (année), “MM” month

(mois) of the year and “DD” (or “JJ”) day (jour) of the

month, in descending order, represented in accordance

with international standard ISO 2014 and ECE/FAL

Recommendation No. 7.

PAYTERMS – Abbreviations for Terms of Payment

115

Recommendation 17

“n” represents the number of M (nM) or the amount of

percentage (n%).

VII. LIST OF “PAYTERMS”

Group 1 – Documentary Credits

Documentary credits are governed by the ICC Uniform

Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits.

Note: It belongs to the parties to agree on the documents

required under documentary credits.

1.1 Irrevocable documentary credits

1.1.1 Unconfirmed, period of time for payment

unspecified – CREDOC

The debtor is to open an irrevocable unconfirmed docu-

mentary credit. The period of time for payment is

unspecified.

1.1.2 Unconfirmed, period of time for payment

stated – CREDOC/nM

The debtor is to open an irrevocable unconfirmed docu-

mentary credit which provides for payment at sight (0M)

or at the end of the period of time indicated (1M, 2M, etc.

reckoned as extending from the date on which the docu-

ments are presented).

1.1.3 Confirmed, period of time for payment

unspecified – CONCREDOC

The debtor is to open a confirmed irrevocable documen-

tary credit. The period of time for payment is unspecified.

1.1.4 Confirmed, period of time for payment

stated – CONCREDOC/nM

The debtor is to open a confirmed irrevocable documen-

tary credit which provides for payment at sight (0M) or at

the end of the period of time indicated (1M, 2M, etc.

reckoned as extending from the date on which the docu-

ments are presented).

1.2 Revocable documentary credits

1.2.1 Period of time for payment

unspecified – RECREDOC

The debtor is to open a revocable documentary credit. The

period of time for payment is unspecified.

1.2.2 Period of time for payment

stated – RECREDOC/nM

The debtor is to open a revocable documentary credit

which provides for payment at sight (OM) or at the end of

the period of time indicated (1M, 2M, etc. reckoned as

extending from the date on which the documents are

presented).

Group 2 – Collections

2.1 Clean collection – COLLECT

The debtor is to pay against financial documents not

accompanied by commercial documents submitted for

collection by the creditor.

2.2 Documentary collection

Note: It belongs to the parties to agree on the commercial

documents against which the debtor is to pay or to accept.

2.2.1 Period of time for payment

unspecified – DOCOLLECT

The debtor is to pay against or to accept, as the case may

be, financial documents accompanied by commercial

documents or commercial documents not accompanied

by financial documents submitted for collection by the

creditor. The period of time for payments is unspecified.

2.2.2 Period of time for payment

stated – DOCOLLECT/nM

The debtor is to pay at sight (0M), or to accept for payment

at the end of a period of time (1M, 2M, etc. reckoned as

extending from the date indicated in the collection order)

against financial documents accompanied by commercial

documents, or commercial documents not accompanied

by financial documents submitted for collection by the

creditor.

2.3 Collection of documentary payments (CMEA)

Payment is to be effected by the submission for collection

of documents as provided under the General Conditions

of Delivery of Goods between Organizations of the Mem-

ber Countries of the Council for Mutual Economic Assis-

tance.

2.3.1 With immediate payment and later

acceptance – INNO

2.3.2 With prior acceptance – INPA

Group 3 – Payment by Instalments – PARTS

The debtor is to pay in instalments, each corresponding to

a fraction of the total amount due. To specify the fractions

and the corresponding dates, the abbreviation PARTS

should be followed by the different fractions and corre-

sponding abbreviations, the fractions being separated by

commas, e.g. PARTS, 30 per cent CASH, 30 per cent 1M,

40 per cent 3M FACULTIMO. The abbreviation PARTS

standing alone indicates that the fractions and the corre-

sponding dates are to be found in a separate document or,

in the absence of any such document, that they have not

been agreed upon.

Group 4 – Other types of payment

4.1 Payment of an agreed date

PAYTERMS – Abbreviations for Terms of Payment

116

Recommendation 17

4.1.1 Payment on a fixed date – AAAA/MM/JJ

The debtor is to pay on the date indicated.

4.1.2 Date of payment determined by delivery of the

goods

4.1.2.1 Payment in advance – ANTICIP

The debtor is to pay before delivery of the goods. The

exact date of payment is not specified.

4.1.2.2 Payment on delivery – CASH

The debtor is to pay on delivery of the goods.

4.1.2.3 Payment to the carrier on

delivery – REMBURS

The debtor is to pay the carrier on delivery of the goods.

4.1.2.4 Payment by end of month of

delivery – ULTIMO

The debtor is to pay not later than the end of the month in

which the goods are delivered.

4.1.2.5 Payment at the end of a period

following the end of the month

of delivery – ULTIMO/nM

The debtor is to pay 1, 2, 3, etc. months after the end of the

month in which the goods are delivered. The creditor may

draw a draft payable at maturity and present it for

acceptance.

4.1.2.6 Payment at the end of a period following

delivery – DEL/nM

The debtor is to pay 1, 2, 3, etc. months after delivery of

the goods. The creditor may draw a draft and present it

for acceptance.

4.1.3 Date of payment determined by receipt of the

invoice

4.1.3.1 Payment on receipt of the

invoice – CASHFAC; CASHINV

The debtor is to pay on receipt of the invoice.

4.1.3.2 Payment on the last day of

the month of receipt of the

invoice – FACULTIMO; INVULTIMO

The debtor is to pay on the last day of the month of receipt

of the invoice.

4.1.3.3 Payment at the end of a period following the

last day of the month of receipt of the invoice

– FACULTIMO/nM; INVULTIMO/nM

The debtor is to pay on the last day of the first, second,

third, etc. months following that of receipt of the invoice.

The creditor may draw a draft payable at maturity and

present it for acceptance.

4.1.3.4 Payment at the end of a period following

receipt of the invoice – FAC/nM; INV/nM

The debtor is to pay 1, 2, 3, etc. months following the date

of receipt of the invoice. The creditor may draw a draft

payable at maturity and present it for acceptance.

4.1.4 Optional dates

Note: The discount term can be repeated indicating

several different discounts for payment at different times

(e.g. 3 per cent 1M, 1 per cent 2M). The final due date is

indicated by an abbreviation for a time period which is not

preceded by a discount (e.g. 3 per cent 1M, 1 per cent 2M,

3M). The interest percentage after the final due date (e.g.

3 per cent 1M, 1 per cent 2M, 3M, 9 per cent). The

discount or interest for delayed payment term, alone or in

one of the combinations here indicated may be combined

with any appropriate PAYTERM in Group 4.1.

4.1.4.1 Discounts – DIS n% nM; ESC n% nM

The debtor is entitled to reduce his payment by the

percentage shown if he makes it earlier than the date

indicated (e.g. 3 per cent 1M).

4.1.4.2 Interest for delayed payment – INT nM n%

The debtor is to pay the indicated percentage rate of

interest if payment is made after the indicated date (e.g.

3M 9 per cent).

4.2 Compensatory payment – COMPENS

Payment is to be effected by setting off the amount due

against all or part of one or more existing or future claims

of the debtor against the creditor.

4.3 Payment on consignment – CONSIGN

The debtor is to pay as soon as he has himself sold the

goods and collected the proceeds.

Group 5 - Special Arrangements

5.1 Payment by agreement – AGREE

The debtor is to pay according to the terms contained in

a separate document, e.g. in the order or order voucher, in

correspondence within the context of a government agree-

ment or an over-all credit facility, etc.

Note: Details “stet” the place where the precise terms are

set out; “stet” may be included after the abbreviation, with

or without an oblique stroke.

5.2 Payment on customary terms – HABIT

The debtor is to pay according to the customary terms of

payment between the parties.

Note: This term presupposes previous dealings between

the parties with sufficiently well-known and customary

terms of payment.

Group 6 - Without payment - NOPAY

No payment is required for the goods or services in

PAYTERMS – Abbreviations for Terms of Payment

117

Recommendation 17

question. There may be several reasons for this - for

example: gifts, samples, replacement goods, consign-

ments for trial, load or inspection, goods sent for repair or

processing, returns, etc.

Synoptic Table of “PAYTERMS”

Group 1 – Documentary Credits

1.1 Irrevocable documentary credits

1.1.1 CREDOC – Unconfirmed, period of time for

payment unspecified

1.1.2 CREDOC/nM – Unconfirmed, period of time

for payment stated

1.1.3 CONCREDOC – Confirmed, period of time

for payment unspecified

1.1.4 CONCREDOC/nM – Confirmed, period of

time for payment stated

1.2 Revocable documentary credits

1.2.1 RECREDOC – Period of time for payment

unspecified

1.2.2 RECREDOC/nM – Period of time for payment

stated

Group 2 – Collections

2.1 COLLECT – Clean collection

2.2 Documentary collection

2.2.1 DOCOLLECT – Period of time for payment

unspecified

2.2.2 DOCOLLECT/nM – Period of time for

payment stated

2.3 Collection of documentary payments (CMEA)

2.3.1 INNO – With immediate payment and later

acceptance

2.3.2 INPA – With prior acceptance

Group 3 – Payment by instalments – PARTS

Group 4 – Other types of payment

4.1 Payment on an agreed date

4.1.1 AAAA/MM/JJ – Payment on a fixed date

4.1.2 Date of payment determined by delivery of the

goods

4.1.2.1 ANTICIP – Payment in advance

4.1.2.2 CASH – Payment on delivery

4.1.2.3 REMBURS – Payment to the carrier on

delivery

4.1.2.4 ULTIMO – Payment by end of month of

delivery

4.1.2.5 ULTIMO/nM – Payment at the end of a

period following the end of the month of

delivery

4.1.2.6 DEL/nM - Payment at the end of a period

following delivery

4.1.3 Date of payment determined by receipt of

the invoice

4.1.3.1 CASHFAC; CASHINV – Payment on

receipt of the invoice

4.1.3.2 FACULTIMO; INVULTIMO – Payment on

the last day of the month of receipt of the

invoice

4.1.3.3 FACULTIMO/nM; INVULTIMO/nM –

Payment at the end of a period following

the last day of the month of reciept of the

invoice

4.1.3.4 FAC/nM; INV/nM – Payment at the end of

a period following receipt of the invoice

4.1.4 Optional dates

4.1.4.1 DIS n% nM; ESC n% nM – Discounts

4.1.4.2 INT nM n% – Interest for delayed payment

4.2 COMPENS – Compensatory payment

4.3 CONSIGN – Payment on consignment

Group 5 – Special arrangements

5.1 AGREE – Payment by agreement

5.2 HABIT – Payment on customary terms

Group 6 – Without payment – NOPAY