Last reviewed: 15 October 2026

How long do late payments stay on your credit report?

Short answer: generally up to seven years. The CFPB says credit reporting companies "can generally report negative information about your credit account payment history for up to seven years" (accessed 2026-10-15).^[1]

Other time limits (per the CFPB, accessed 2026-10-15)^[1]

• Lawsuits and judgments: seven years, or until the statute of limitations runs out, whichever is longer.
• Bankruptcies: up to ten years.
• On-time payment history: can stay on your report for longer, including after an account is closed.

When the limits don't apply

The CFPB says the time limits don't apply when the report is used for (accessed 2026-10-15):^[1]

• a job paying more than $75,000 a year
• an application for more than $150,000 of credit or life insurance

Can someone remove an accurate late payment?

No. The CFPB says "no one has the right to remove negative information, such as late payments, from a credit report if it is accurate." Errors can be disputed on your own at no cost (accessed 2026-10-15).^[1] See Can credit repair companies charge upfront fees?.

Check your reports for free

The FTC says you can check your report from each of the three bureaus once a week for free at AnnualCreditReport.com (accessed 2026-10-14).^[2]

FAQ

Can a company remove an accurate late payment for a fee?

No. The CFPB says no one has the right to remove accurate negative information from a credit report.

How long do bankruptcies stay?

Up to ten years, according to the CFPB.

References

1. [1] CFPB, How long does information stay on my credit report? (CFPB last reviewed 2026-09-02; accessed 2026-10-15). https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/how-long-does-negative-information-remain-on-my-credit-report-en-323/
2. [2] FTC, Free Credit Reports (accessed 2026-10-14). https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/free-credit-reports