Statute of Limitations for Account Stated / Open Account in Arizona

Overview

In Arizona, the statute of limitations (SOL) sets a deadline for when a creditor or claimant must file a lawsuit based on a debt. For many debt-collection filings, the claim is framed as an account stated or an open account (sometimes described as an ongoing account with charges over time).

DocketMath focuses on the SOL period used by courts when a more specific sub-rule is not identified. For Arizona, the general/default civil limitations period is 2 years under A.R.S. § 13-107(A). This article explains how that general period typically applies to debt-type disputes framed in these ways, and what facts can change the outcome.

If you want to calculate a likely deadline using dates you control, use DocketMath’s calculator here: /tools/statute-of-limitations.

Limitation period

The baseline: 2 years (general/default)

For Arizona, DocketMath uses the general SOL period of 2 years where no claim-type-specific rule is identified for the “account stated / open account” framing.

• General SOL period: 2 years
• General statute cited in this article: **A.R.S. § 13-107(A)
• Rule used here: the default/general period (no separate account-stated/open-account sub-rule identified)

Because the analysis depends on when the claim “accrues,” the next step is determining the date that starts the clock.

What dates affect the calculation

Different debt cases can pivot on different “start” dates, such as:

• Last transaction date on an open account (e.g., last charge or service date)
• Date of the account stated (e.g., a statement treated as accepted, or a communication that the debtor is alleged to have accepted)
• Date of an alleged breach under a contract
• Date of a significant acknowledgment or partial payment that may affect accrual or tolling (depending on the fact pattern)

DocketMath’s calculator is designed for practical use: you provide the key date you believe starts the SOL clock, and it outputs a “latest filing date” based on the selected rule.

Practical example (how the 2-year window behaves)

Assume the relevant triggering date is January 15, 2024.

• SOL period: 2 years
• Latest filing date (simple add): January 15, 2026

If a complaint is filed after that deadline, the limitation defense may become relevant—though whether a court accepts it depends on details like accrual, tolling, and how the claim is characterized.

Key exceptions

Arizona limitations deadlines can be affected by exceptions or case-specific doctrines. The calculator below helps you model the default period, but these categories can still change the result.

1) Accrual disputes (most common)

Even when the SOL is “2 years,” the hardest part is often the accrual date—i.e., when the claim became actionable.

For account-type disputes, accrual might be argued as:

• when the last charge occurred (open account theory),
• when the statement was issued and accepted (account stated theory),
• or when nonpayment matured into a legally actionable default.

If you’re working with records, gather:

• the statement dates,
• the last activity date (charges/credits),
• the date of any written demand or acknowledgment.

2) Tolling and suspension events

Certain events can pause or extend limitations periods. These can include:

• delays caused by recognized legal circumstances,
• procedural events tied to a pending matter,
• or other tolling triggers that apply under Arizona law.

Because tolling can be highly fact-specific, the best approach is to enter the default dates in DocketMath first, then compare that baseline to any known tolling facts before treating the result as definitive.

3) Partial payments or acknowledgments

Some fact patterns can lead a claimant to argue that a debtor’s payment or acknowledgment affects the limitation analysis (either by shifting accrual or supporting tolling/continuation arguments). This is frequently litigated.

If you have:

• payment ledger entries,
• email/letter acknowledgments,
• signed statements,

then isolating the exact date of each can matter as much as the overall amount.

Statute citation

DocketMath’s baseline for Arizona in this context is the general/default 2-year limitations period:

• A.R.S. § 13-107(A) — General statute of limitations period: 2 years
  Source used for the general SOL period: FindLaw’s Arizona statute-of-limitations overview for A.R.S. § 13-107(A):
  https://www.findlaw.com/state/arizona-law/arizona-criminal-statute-of-limitations-laws.html?utm_source=openai

Use the calculator

DocketMath’s statute-of-limitations tool helps you translate dates into a deadline.

Primary CTA: /tools/statute-of-limitations

How to use it effectively

When you open the calculator:

• Identify your best-supported triggering date:

  • For an open account framing: use the last charge/service date (or the date you believe the claim accrued).
  • For an account stated framing: use the date of the statement you believe was accepted (or the date the acceptance is alleged to have occurred).
• Enter the date into the calculator along with the Arizona jurisdiction setting.
• Review the output:

  • DocketMath will compute the earliest/likely start (if the tool includes it) and the latest likely filing date based on the 2-year general period.

Inputs that change the output

Check these items before you hit “calculate”:

• Wrong triggering date → shifts the output by months or years.
• Confusing “statement date” vs. “last activity date” → can change the accrual point.
• Multiple alleged account periods → you may need to model each period separately.

To keep your analysis organized, make a short checklist of the dates you’re relying on:

After you calculate the deadline, compare:

• If filing date is before the computed deadline: SOL likely not a barrier on the default math.
• If filing date is after the computed deadline: the SOL defense may be implicated (subject to accrual/tolling arguments).

Related reading

• Choosing the right statute of limitations tool for Vermont — Tool comparison
• Statute of limitations in Singapore: how to estimate the deadline — How-to guide
• Choosing the right statute of limitations tool for Connecticut — Tool comparison