What is the minimum amount due on credit cards?
The credit card minimum amount due is the amount that a cardholder is required to pay on or before the payment due date. Typically, the minimum amount due is calculated as 5% of the total outstanding amount.
The credit card minimum payment amount due also includes any EMI payment conversions you may have opted for. If you have an unpaid balance from the previous credit card billing cycle or exceed your credit limit, that amount is also added to the credit card minimum due.
How does the minimum due on a credit card work?
The credit card minimum due is the smallest payment a cardholder can make to meet their monthly obligation. It's usually a percentage of the total outstanding balance or a fixed amount set by the credit card issuer. Paying only the minimum due allows cardholders to avoid late fees, but it results in carrying forward the remaining balance to the next billing cycle, incurring high-interest rates.
How to calculate the minimum amount due on your credit card?
The minimum amount due is usually set at 5% of the total outstanding balance, which is calculated on the date the statement is generated by most credit card issuers. This is the amount that you are required to pay before or on the due date of the payment.
For instance, your credit card company generates a credit card statement on the 26th of every month and the due date is on the 5th of every month.
So, if you have made purchases worth Rs. 10,000 before the 26th, your minimum amount due will be 5% of the total payable amount (Rs. 10,000) i.e., Rs. 500. You have to pay this amount on or before the 5th of the next month to avoid late fees.
If you pay the minimum due of Rs. 500, you will not be charged any late fee. However, the remaining outstanding amount of Rs. 9,500 will continue to attract interest at 3.99% per month.
Date of transaction |
Amount (Rs.) |
Comments |
July 20 |
5,000 |
No interest or late fee is applicable. |
July 25 |
5,000 |
No interest or late fee is applicable. |
July 26 |
10,000 |
Your credit card statement is generated for Rs. 10,000. The minimum amount due is Rs. 500. |
August 5 |
500 |
The minimum amount due is paid. The outstanding amount of Rs. 9,500 will incur interest at 3.99%. |
Benefits of paying the minimum due amount
- Helps you avoid a penalty and a late payment fee
- Helps you keep your credit card account active
- Lets you keep your credit score unaffected
- If you are in a financial crisis, you can use the card and manage your finances
Risk of paying only the minimum due amount
Credit cards apply interest on your outstanding balance every month. So if you pay only the minimum amount, your outstanding balance will remain high. The interest on the outstanding balance will accumulate month on month, making your debts higher. If you have the funds, it is better to clear the credit card bill payment in full every month.
Conclusion
In summary, while paying the minimum amount due can help you avoid late fees and penalties, it is not advisable to do so unless you have no other option. Instead, it is better to pay the total amount due or as much as you can afford to avoid accumulating excessive interest charges and harming your credit score.
Frequently asked questions
The minimum amount due is a fraction of the total outstanding amount that you have to pay to avoid late fees and cancellation of your credit card. Paying the minimum amount due ensures that your credit card services are active.
When you only pay the minimum amount due, the remaining outstanding amount continues to attract interest. However, by clearing the minimum amount due you can avoid late payment penalties and keep your credit card account active, while maintaining your credit score.
If you do not pay the minimum amount due on your credit card, you will be charged a late payment fee. Delay in bill payment would also lead you to lose your credit card interest-free period and increase outstanding interest.
You can check your credit card monthly billing statement to know your minimum amount due and the payment due date. The minimum amount due is calculated as a fixed percentage of the total outstanding amount in a billing cycle.
Paying only the minimum amount due will lead you to lose your interest-free credit period. If you continue to pay only the minimum amount due, your interest on the purchase amount will increase over time. So, not only would you have to pay high-interest charges on the total outstanding sum, but your credit limit will also be reduced due to the unpaid amount.
You should ideally pay the bill in full every month to avoid interest on a high outstanding amount and falling into a debt trap.
No, if you at least pay the minimum amount due to any reason, your credit score stays unharmed.
- You will have to pay high interest charges on the outstanding amount
- You will have no interest-free credit period
- Your credit limit will reduce as per your outstanding balance
The minimum amount due is the smallest payment required to keep the account in good standing. In contrast, the total amount due represents the entire outstanding balance, including purchases, fees, and interest. While paying the minimum amount prevents penalties, settling the total amount due avoids accumulating interest and reduces long-term debt.
Paying only the minimum amount is a financial pitfall. It leads to the accumulation of high-interest debt, elongating the time needed to clear balances. Over time, this can result in substantial additional costs. It's advisable to pay the total amount due to avoid interest charges and steadily reduce the outstanding balance, fostering healthier financial habits and long-term savings.
