A woman sits on a couch holding a coffee mug and looking at her mobile phone.

How Long Do Late Payments Stay on a Credit Report?

5 min read

Published February 11, 2026

Table of contents

Key Takeaways

Late credit card payments may stay on your credit report for up to seven years.
Late payments may hurt your credit score more if you have a limited credit history or have missed multiple payments.
The impact of a late payment on your credit may shrink over time, especially if you make a timely payment every month and minimize your balances moving forward.

You should try to pay your credit card bill on time each month, but mistakes happen. Maybe you’re short on cash or you forget to send your credit card payment by the due date.

Late credit card payments may appear on your credit report, and influence your credit score, up to seven years, according to the Federal Trade Commission.

Understanding exactly how late payments affect your credit may help you take steps to repair your credit score and avoid late payments in the future.

What's a late payment?

Any credit card payment you make after the due date has passed is a late credit card payment. You must make at least the minimum monthly payment by the due date to keep your account in good standing.

Even if you make a partial payment by the due date, your credit card company may still consider your payment late.

Your credit card company may charge a late fee as soon as you miss a payment, depending on issuer. However, credit card issuers typically don’t report your missed payments to a major credit bureau until a month after the due date.

So, if you’re a few days late on your credit card bill, you may sometimes be able to avoid impacting your credit score by paying right away, though there’s no guarantee. You may find more specific information about your creditor’s late payment policies in your credit card agreement.

How late payments affect your credit

Your payment habits have a major influence on your credit. Payment history accounts for 35% of your FICO^® Credit Score.¹ That means even a single late payment may hurt your credit.

How much do late payments affect your credit?

The specific impact that late payments have on your credit score depends on the circumstances.

While catching up on late payments may feel overwhelming, it’s important not to let them pile up. The longer you go without paying, the more your credit score may suffer. If you pay your bill a few days after it’s due, it may not even appear on your credit report. On the other hand, if months pass without a payment, your score may drop significantly.

If you have an extensive credit history, a missed payment will likely lower your score somewhat. However, a late payment may have a bigger negative impact if you have a short credit history, since it accounts for a larger portion.

A late payment may also hurt your credit score more if you have missed payments in the past. Multiple missed payments may point to a concerning pattern for credit card issuers.

How long do late payments stay on a credit report?

Late payments and other negative information may stay on your credit report for up to seven years.

While seven years may seem like a long time, there’s good news. The impact that a late payment has on your credit report gradually goes down over time.

In the months following your late payment, you may notice a noticeable drop in your credit score. But as you practice positive credit habits, like reducing your debts, making a timely payment each month, and keeping your balance to a minimum, your score may inch back up.

Did you know?

If you want to rebuild your credit score after late payments have brought it down, but you’re not sure where to start, you may consider a secured credit card. The Discover it^® Secured Credit Card helps you rebuild your credit history with responsible use.²

Learn More

Can you remove late payments from your credit report?

You may be able to remove some late payments from your credit report.

If a late payment on your report is incorrect, more than seven years old, or seems to be connected to a fraudulent charge, you may dispute it with your credit card issuer or the credit reporting agency. If the payment is found to be inaccurate, it will come off your credit card account and credit report.

Legitimate late payments are harder to remove from your report than inaccurate late payments.

The bottom line

A late credit card payment may stay on your credit report for up to seven years. But as long as you pay off your bill, the impact that a late payment has on your credit score may go down over time, especially as you build responsible credit habits.

Whether you want to fix your credit score after a delinquency or avoid late payments altogether, tools like a monthly automatic payment and payment reminders may help. If you’re unsure whether you can make an upcoming monthly payment, reach out to your card issuer right away. Your creditor may consider lowering your minimum payment amount or offer a new payment plan so you don’t fall behind.

Important Information >