Published reports

MICROSOFT LIMITED

Company number: 01624297

This information is as reported by the business, and responses are in their own words.

Reporting period:

1 July 2025 to 31 December 2025

Report filed on:

9 February 2026

Approved by:

Benjamin Owen Orndorff


Contracts and payments

Do any of this business's construction contracts with its suppliers include retention clauses? Yes

Payment statistics

Average time taken to pay invoices: 30 days

Total value paid:

  • within 30 days: £196,092,638  (78%)
  • in 31 to 60 days: £35,093,289  (14%)
  • in 61 days or more: £20,340,650  (8%)

Invoices paid:

  • within 30 days: 80%
  • in 31 to 60 days: 16%
  • in 61 days or more: 4%

Late and disputed:

  • total value of payments due in the reporting period which have not been paid within the agreed period: £29,954,033
  • payments due in the reporting period which have not been paid within the agreed period: 10%
  • not made in the reporting period due to a dispute: 0%

Payment terms

Shortest standard payment periods

10 days

Longest standard payment period

60 days

Standard payment terms

Microsoft's Standard Supplier Payment Terms are 2% 10/ Net 60. After
Microsoft accepts the purchase and receives a correct and undisputed
invoice (the "Create Date") Microsoft will release payment for the total
amount less 2% discount by net ten (10) calendar days. If the 10-
calendar day period expires, Microsoft will release payment for the total
invoice amount by net sixty (60) calendar days.

Were there any changes to the standard payment terms in the reporting period?

No

Were suppliers notified or consulted about these changes before they were made?

N/A

Maximum contractual payment period agreed

60 days

No further comment provided

Any other information about payment terms

No further comment provided

Retention clauses

How does this business use retention clauses?

Retention clauses are used in specific circumstances:

Retention clauses are usually applied for construction projects where the total value of the project is over $1M and is usually 2.5%-10% depending on the project.

Does this business only use retention clauses in construction contracts above a specific contract sum?

Yes: £728,862

Does this business use a standard percentage rate in retention clauses?

No

Does this business apply retention clause practices that are no more onerous than those applied to it on the same project?

No

Releasing money under a retention clause

Process for releasing money this business has deducted or retained under a retention clause

Typically released after 12 months retention period, following check and
closure.

Is the money released in stages?

Yes:

Depends on the specific project and pre agreed milestones.

Amount retained from suppliers in the reporting period

Amount retained stated as a percentage of the money retained from this business by its clients

0%

Amount retained stated as a percentage of the total construction payments made by this business

5%

Dispute resolution process

Suppliers manage invoicing and queries through MSinvoice and
SupplierWeb, Microsoft's secure web-based portals for submitting
electronic invoices and raising concerns. Suppliers are also able to
create support tickets by sending an email directly to the Procure to Pay
team. If an invoice is disputed, the supplier receives an automated
notification outlining the invoice number and reason for rejection. To
resolve a dispute, the supplier is required to provide a corrected invoice
for review and processing.

Other payment information

Has this business signed up to a code of conduct or standards on payment practices? If so, which?

For example, signatories to The Fair Payment Code must commit to paying 95% of their invoices within 60 days.

No, this business has not signed up to a code of conduct or standards on payment practices.

Does this business offer e-invoicing in relation to qualifying contracts?

This is where suppliers can electronically submit and track invoices. It's not just allowing suppliers to email them an invoice.

Yes

Does this business offer supply chain finance?

This is where a supplier who has submitted an invoice can be paid by a third-party finance provider earlier than the agreed payment date. The business would then pay the finance provider the invoiced sum.

No

Under its payment practices and policies, can this business deduct sums from payments under qualifying contracts as a charge for remaining on a supplier list?

No

During the reporting period, did the business deduct sums from payments as a charge for remaining on a supplier list?

No