What do you call the date on which the principal of a note must be repaid?

The date on which the principal of a note must be repaid is referred to as the maturity date. This term is widely used in finance and accounting to specify the exact date when a debt obligation becomes due and payable in full, meaning the borrower must repay the original amount borrowed, often referred to as the principal, along with any accrued interest. Understanding this term is crucial for both parties involved in a note—lenders and borrowers—as it dictates the timeframe for the financial obligation.

While the notion of a calling date, repayment date, and due date might seem similar, they encompass different aspects of financial instruments. The calling date typically refers to the date on which a bond or note can be redeemed by the issuer before its maturity. The repayment date can imply the date when a payment is made rather than when the entire principal must be paid. The due date is more general and can refer to the deadlines for various types of payments; however, in this context, "maturity date" is the specific term used for when the principal must be repaid. Thus, maturity date is the correct and most precise term in this scenario.