Judgment Interest Calculator California and Federal
Figure the interest owed on a California or federal money judgment to any date, with payments and costs after judgment. Free to use, with each step shown.
Judgment interest
California and
federal judgments
Payments and costs included
- 10%, 5% or 7%California rates
- Weeklyfederal Treasury rate
- Freeno sign-in needed
Figure Judgment Interest
How federal interest works. Under 28 U.S.C. 1961, a federal judgment earns interest at the weekly average 1-year Treasury yield, published by the Federal Reserve, for the calendar week before the judgment date. Interest is figured daily and added to the principal once a year, on each anniversary of the judgment. The rate stays the same for the life of the judgment.
New weekly rates are added every Monday evening, after the Federal Reserve publishes them.
Payments and costs after judgment
Payments go to interest owed first, then the principal. Costs added after judgment become part of the principal from their date.
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Interest on a money judgment adds up every day until the judgment is paid. Enter the judgment and any payments or costs, and the calculator figures what is owed today or on any date you choose.
California Judgment Interest
A California judgment earns simple interest on the unpaid principal, starting the day the judgment is entered (Code of Civil Procedure 685.020).
- 10% a year for most judgments (Code of Civil Procedure 685.010).
- 5% a year for a judgment entered on or after January 1, 2023, against a person, for medical debt under $200,000 or personal debt under $50,000, such as a credit card. Judgments for tort, fraud or unpaid wages stay at 10%. A qualifying judgment renewed on or after January 1, 2023 also earns 5% from the renewal.
- 7% a year when the debtor is a government agency.
- The State of California: interest on a judgment against the State or a state agency starts 180 days after the judgment (Government Code 965.5).
When a judgment is renewed, the interest owed up to the renewal is added to the renewed amount. To figure interest after a renewal, enter the renewal date and the renewed amount. Our guide to renewing a California judgment covers the deadlines.
Federal Judgments
Interest on a federal money judgment is set by 28 U.S.C. 1961. The rate is the weekly average 1-year Treasury yield, published by the Federal Reserve, for the calendar week before the judgment was entered, and it stays the same for the life of the judgment. Interest is figured daily and compounded once a year, on each anniversary of the judgment.
The calculator looks up the rate for the judgment date. New weekly rates are added every Monday evening, after the Federal Reserve publishes them. For a judgment entered before December 21, 2000, when a different rate applied, type the rate shown on the judgment.
Payments and Costs After Judgment
Money collected on a California judgment is credited first to the levying officer’s costs and any court fees, then to the interest owed, and then to the principal (Code of Civil Procedure 695.220). The calculator applies each payment to the interest owed first, then the principal. Levying officer fees are not included.
Costs of enforcing a judgment, such as the costs of a writ, a levy or service, can be added to the judgment with a memorandum of costs (Code of Civil Procedure 685.070). Once added, they become part of the principal and earn interest from then on (Code of Civil Procedure 685.090). Enter them as costs after judgment, on the date they were added.
Judgment Interest Questions
What is the interest rate on a California judgment?
Most California judgments earn 10% a year (Code of Civil Procedure 685.010). A judgment entered on or after January 1, 2023, against a person, for medical debt under $200,000 or personal debt under $50,000 earns 5%. Judgments against a government agency earn 7%.
Is California judgment interest compounded?
No. It is simple interest on the unpaid principal. When a judgment is renewed, the interest owed up to then is added to the renewed amount, and interest runs on the new total from the renewal.
When does interest on a judgment start?
On the date the judgment is entered (Code of Civil Procedure 685.020). Against the State of California or a state agency, interest starts 180 days after the judgment (Government Code 965.5).
How is the federal post-judgment interest rate set?
Under 28 U.S.C. 1961, the rate is the weekly average 1-year Treasury yield, published by the Federal Reserve, for the calendar week before the judgment. It stays the same for the life of the judgment. Interest is figured daily and compounded once a year.
How are payments on a judgment applied?
Money collected on a California judgment goes to the levying officer’s costs and court fees first, then to the interest owed, and then to the principal (Code of Civil Procedure 695.220). The calculator applies each payment to the interest owed first, then the principal.
Can I save or print the results?
Yes. Print gives the results and each step on paper or as a PDF, and Copy the Figures copies them so you can paste them into an email or a document.
The calculator gives an estimate from the information entered. It is not legal advice, and the court’s figures control. Daily interest uses a 365-day year.
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