Learn how payment claims work in the Australian Capital Territory and how PayClaim helps prepare and serve unpaid construction invoice claims for a fixed $79.
Security of Payment laws are designed to help contractors and subcontractors claim payment for construction work without waiting months for unpaid invoices to be resolved. The process and deadlines vary by state, so it is important to use the correct rules for where the work was completed.
PayClaim helps make the process easier by collecting the key information, preparing the claim documents and serving them electronically based on the details you provide.
Eligibility depends on the work, contract, location and circumstances. For complex matters, seek legal advice.
You must serve it in time: Before the later of the period in the contract and 12 months after the work was last carried out or the goods last supplied (section 15).
The respondent has 10 business days after the payment claim is given, or the time required by the contract, whichever is earlier (section 16).
If no payment schedule is given in time, the respondent becomes liable to pay the claimed amount on the due date (section 16), recoverable as a debt without a cross-claim or contract defence.
10 business days after receiving a payment schedule, or 20 business days after the due date where a scheduled amount goes unpaid (section 19). The application is made to an authorised nominating authority, chosen by the claimant.
Keep copies of invoices, evidence, service records and correspondence. Proof of when and how the claim was served is what the timeframes above run from.
There is no reference date. A calendar-month model applies, and generally only one payment claim may be served each calendar month. The statutory due date is the earlier of 15 business days after the claim and the contractual date. Insurable residential building work involving a resident owner is excluded.
Statutory references on this page were checked against the consolidated Building and Construction Industry (Security of Payment) Act 2009 (ACT) on the official Australian Capital Territory legislation website in July 2026. Timeframes interact with your contract and with the statutory due date for payment, so check your own contract. This is general information, not legal advice.
PayClaim prepares and serves formal Security of Payment claims in the Australian Capital Territory under the Building and Construction Industry (Security of Payment) Act 2009 (ACT) — for a flat $79.
Start Your $79 Claim →the Australian Capital Territory is covered by the Building and Construction Industry (Security of Payment) Act 2009 (ACT). Like every Australian state and territory, the Australian Capital Territory has its own Security of Payment legislation giving contractors, subcontractors and suppliers a statutory right to recover money owed for construction work — without first going to court.
Whatever your trade — electrician, plumber, concreter, carpenter, roofer, painter, tiler, scaffolder, formworker, earthmover or supplier — if you’ve performed construction work in the Australian Capital Territory and you’ve issued an invoice that hasn’t been paid, the ACT SOP Act is the legal lever built for your situation.
You don’t need to know the legislation to use PayClaim — you just need a few details about the job and the unpaid invoice:
For a flat $79, PayClaim:
Response deadlines depend on the state, the contract and the type of claim — PayClaim calculates the relevant deadline from the information you provide so you don’t have to.
Once served, the respondent has a statutory window under the ACT SOP Act to either pay the claimed amount or formally respond setting out what they’re paying and what (if anything) they’re withholding. If they pay in full, you’re done. If they don’t respond, the unpaid amount may become a statutory debt enforceable through the courts. If they dispute the claim, you have the option to apply to an authorised nominating authority for adjudication — a fast, lower-cost alternative to court.
PayClaim is built for the prepare-and-serve step. For complex disputes, adjudication strategy, court enforcement or insolvency-related matters, you should seek advice from a qualified construction lawyer in the Australian Capital Territory.
Flat $79. Preparation, electronic service and proof of service included.
Start Your $79 ClaimEnter who owes you money, the amount unpaid, the work completed and the project location.
Add invoices, quotes, contracts, messages, photos and supporting documents.
PayClaim prepares the payment claim documents based on the information provided.
PayClaim electronically serves the claim and gives you a record of what was sent.
If the other party does not pay, they may respond, dispute the claim or ignore it. Your next options depend on the state, the contract, the amount claimed and the circumstances.
Some respondents pay once a formal claim is served.
They may reply, including with a payment schedule stating what they propose to pay.
You can consider adjudication, legal advice or other options.
If the deadline passes with no response, you may have further options depending on your state.
PayClaim does not provide legal advice, adjudication representation or court enforcement.
Start your claim, upload your evidence and only pay $79 when you're ready for PayClaim to prepare and serve it.