ACT Security of Payment Deadline Calculator
Calculate ACT Security of Payment deadlines: payment schedule, due date, notice of intention and adjudication application dates.
This tool provides general estimates only and does not constitute legal advice. For advice specific to your situation, contact Vitt Legal for a consultation — expert, transparent legal advice.
How the calculator works
- You choose the state or territory where the work was done and who you are claiming from. Security of Payment laws are state-based, so the deadlines differ.
- From the date you served your payment claim, it counts forward the business days allowed for the payment schedule and the due date for payment, skipping weekends and any Christmas–New Year days the Act excludes.
- Depending on how the other side responded, it works out the last day to give a notice of intention (where one is required) and to apply for adjudication.
- Where a rule could not be confirmed from an official source, the calculator does not guess: it tells you to confirm that step with a lawyer.
Rules last checked .
Australian Capital Territory Security of Payment rules
Australian Capital Territory (ACT)
Building and Construction Industry (Security of Payment) Act 2009 (ACT)
- Which contracts
- Amendments from 11 March 2024 let claims be made monthly (from the last day of each month in which work was done) and set a maximum payment term. They apply to construction contracts entered into on or after 11 March 2024; older contracts keep reference dates and the earlier payment terms.Source: Building and Construction Industry (Security of Payment) Act 2009 (ACT), republication 14 effective 6 December 2025
- Counting business days
- The Act relies on the Legislation Act 2001 definition (weekends and public holidays excluded). That definition was not opened for this review — confirm holiday-period deadlines with a lawyer.Needs confirmation with a lawyerSource: Building and Construction Industry (Security of Payment) Act 2009 (ACT), republication 14 effective 6 December 2025
- Time limit to serve a payment claim
- Before the later of the contract period or 12 months after the work was last carried out (s 15(5)).Source: Building and Construction Industry (Security of Payment) Act 2009 (ACT), republication 14 effective 6 December 2025
- Payment schedule
- The contract time or 10 business days after the claim, whichever is earlier (s 16(4)).Source: Building and Construction Industry (Security of Payment) Act 2009 (ACT), republication 14 effective 6 December 2025
- Due date — claiming from the principal
- The earlier of 15 business days after the claim or the contract date (s 13).Source: Building and Construction Industry (Security of Payment) Act 2009 (ACT), republication 14 effective 6 December 2025
- Due date — claiming from a head contractor
- The earlier of 15 business days after the claim or the contract date (s 13).Source: Building and Construction Industry (Security of Payment) Act 2009 (ACT), republication 14 effective 6 December 2025
- Homeowner (owner-occupier) contracts
- Contracts for insurable residential building work with a resident owner are excluded, to the extent they relate to the owner's home (s 9(2)(b)).Source: Building and Construction Industry (Security of Payment) Act 2009 (ACT), republication 14 effective 6 December 2025
- Adjudication — schedule for less than claimed
- Within 10 business days after you receive the payment schedule.Source: Building and Construction Industry (Security of Payment) Act 2009 (ACT), republication 14 effective 6 December 2025
- Adjudication — scheduled amount not paid
- Within 20 business days after the due date for payment.Source: Building and Construction Industry (Security of Payment) Act 2009 (ACT), republication 14 effective 6 December 2025
- Adjudication — no schedule and not paid
- Notify the respondent within 20 business days after the due date; they then have 5 business days to provide a schedule. Apply within 10 business days after the earlier of the end of that 5-day period and the day you receive a schedule (s 19).Source: Building and Construction Industry (Security of Payment) Act 2009 (ACT), republication 14 effective 6 December 2025
Security of Payment deadlines by state
Maximum periods under each Act. A contract can shorten the payment schedule and due date periods. Adjudication periods run from the event shown.
| State | Payment schedule | Adjudication: schedule for less | Adjudication: no schedule | Claim time limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VIC | 10 business days | 10 business days after receipt | Notice within 10 days of due date, 5-day second chance, then 5 business days | 6 months after practical completion (or contract, if later) |
| NSW | 10 business days | 10 business days after receipt | Notice within 20 days of due date, 5-day second chance, then 10 business days | 12 months after work last done (or contract, if later) |
| QLD | 15 business days | 30 business days after receipt | 30 business days | 6 months after work last done (or contract, if later) |
| WA | 15 business days | 20 business days after receipt | Notice within 20 days of due date, 5-day second chance, then 20 business days | 6 months after work last done (or contract, if later) |
| SA | Confirm with a lawyer | Confirm with a lawyer after receipt | Confirm with a lawyer | Confirm with a lawyer |
| TAS | 10 business days | 10 business days after receipt | Notice within 20 days of due date, 5-day second chance, then 10 business days | 12 months after work last done (or contract, if later) |
| ACT | 10 business days | 10 business days after receipt | Notice within 20 days of due date, 5-day second chance, then 10 business days | 12 months after work last done (or contract, if later) |
| NT | 10 working days | 65 working days after receipt | 65 working days | Set by the contract |
What this calculator does not cover
- Public holidays. They are not skipped, so a real deadline can be a day or more later than shown.
- Earlier deadlines set by your contract, beyond the due date you enter.
- Final payment claims, performance security and retention claims, and adjudication responses.
- Contracts signed before the current rules started (see “Which contracts” for each state).
- Whether your payment claim or schedule is valid, or whether the Act covers your contract at all.
- South Australian dates, which could not be confirmed against the current Act.
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