The Complete NZ Payment Terms Abbreviations Cheat Sheet
A single quick-reference table for every common payment terms abbreviation you'll see on a New Zealand invoice or supplier account — what each one means, and how the due date is actually calculated.
Payment Terms at a Glance
| Abbreviation | Meaning | How the due date is set |
|---|---|---|
| Net 7 | Payment due 7 days after the invoice date | Invoice date + 7 days |
| Net 14 | Payment due 14 days after the invoice date | Invoice date + 14 days |
| Net 30 | Payment due 30 days after the invoice date | Invoice date + 30 days |
| Net 60 | Payment due 60 days after the invoice date | Invoice date + 60 days |
| Net 90 | Payment due 90 days after the invoice date | Invoice date + 90 days |
| EOM 30 | Payment due 30 days after the end of the invoice month | End of invoice month + 30 days |
| 20th of the month following | Payment due the 20th of the calendar month after the invoice date | Fixed at the 20th of the next month |
| 2/10 Net 30 | 2% discount if paid within 10 days; otherwise full amount due at 30 days | Invoice date + 10 days (discount) or + 30 days (full) |
| COD | Cash on delivery — payment due when goods are delivered | On delivery |
| CIA | Cash in advance — payment due before goods are supplied | Before supply |
| PIA | Payment in advance — same meaning as CIA | Before supply |
| CWO | Cash with order — payment due at the time the order is placed | At time of order |
How to Read Your Supplier's Payment Terms
Always check whether the term counts from the invoice date (like Net 30) or from the calendar month (like EOM 30 or the 20th of the month following) — this is the single biggest source of confusion, since two terms that sound similar can produce due dates weeks apart. If a supplier statement or contract uses unfamiliar wording, it's worth asking directly rather than assuming it matches a term you already know.
Which Term Is Most Common in NZ?
Net 30 is the most common default across New Zealand trade and wholesale invoices, with EOM 30 and the 20th of the month following both widely used on trade accounts that bill customers monthly. CIA, PIA and CWO tend to appear for new or higher-risk customers, while Net 60 and Net 90 usually only appear with larger buyers who have specifically negotiated for them.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between CIA and PIA?
None in practice — both mean payment is required before the goods or services are supplied. They're simply two common ways of writing the same term.
What does "net" mean in a payment term?
"Net" means the full invoice amount is due, with no early-payment discount, as opposed to a discounted term like 2/10 Net 30.
Is COD the same as CWO?
No. COD (cash on delivery) is paid when goods arrive, while CWO (cash with order) is paid when the order is first placed, before anything is delivered.
Why do some payment terms count from the invoice date and others from the calendar month?
It largely comes down to supplier preference and billing cycle: invoice-date terms like Net 30 suit ad-hoc invoicing, while calendar-based terms like EOM 30 suit suppliers who prefer customers to settle a full month's purchases together.
Where can I find a full explanation of any of these terms?
Each abbreviation above links through to a full explainer with worked NZ examples on the PaidTerms blog.
Whatever Your Terms Say, PaidTerms Can Get You Paid Faster
Whether you invoice on Net 30, EOM 30, or a calendar-based term, PaidTerms Capital pays you upfront while your customer repays over time.
Read next: what Net 30 means, or what EOM 30 means.
