Victorian Security of Payment Deadline Calculator
Work out Victorian Security of Payment deadlines under the 2026 reforms: payment schedule, due date 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 .
Victoria Security of Payment rules
Victoria (VIC)
Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 2002 (Vic)
- Which contracts
- The 2025 amendments (in force from 15 April 2026) apply to all construction contracts, including those signed before that date. Reference dates were abolished: a claim can be served from the last day of each month in which work was done.Source: Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 2002 (Vic), version 015 in force 24 June 2026
- Counting business days
- Business days exclude weekends, Victorian public holidays and 22 December to 10 January.Source: Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 2002 (Vic), version 015 in force 24 June 2026
- Time limit to serve a payment claim
- No later than the day before the latest of: the contract date, or 6 months after practical completion of all work (or supply of all goods and services). The calculator does not compute this because it runs from practical completion, not from each month's work.Source: Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 2002 (Vic), version 015 in force 24 June 2026
- Payment schedule
- 10 business days after the claim is served, or earlier if the contract requires.Source: Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 2002 (Vic), version 015 in force 24 June 2026
- Due date — claiming from the principal
- The contract date, but never later than 20 business days after the claim. If the contract is silent, 10 business days after the earliest day the claim could be served.Source: Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 2002 (Vic), version 015 in force 24 June 2026
- Due date — claiming from a head contractor
- The contract date, but never later than 20 business days after the claim. If the contract is silent, 10 business days after the earliest day the claim could be served.Source: Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 2002 (Vic), version 015 in force 24 June 2026
- Homeowner (owner-occupier) contracts
- The Act does not apply to a domestic building contract between a builder and a building owner (s 7(2)(b)). Owners and builders use the domestic building dispute process instead.Source: Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 2002 (Vic), version 015 in force 24 June 2026
- 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 2002 (Vic), version 015 in force 24 June 2026
- Adjudication — scheduled amount not paid
- Within 10 business days after the due date for payment.Source: Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 2002 (Vic), version 015 in force 24 June 2026
- Adjudication — no schedule and not paid
- Serve a notice of intention within 10 business days after the due date. The respondent then has 5 business days to serve a payment schedule. Lodge the application within 5 business days after that 5-day period ends.Source: Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 2002 (Vic), version 015 in force 24 June 2026
- Work done 1 to 21 December can be claimed from 22 December; work done 22 to 31 December can be claimed from 31 January.
- A copy of the adjudication application must be served on the respondent within 3 business days after lodging it.
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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