Guides
Invoicing guides
Plain-English answers about invoices, GST, VAT and getting paid. Written for shop owners, traders and freelancers.
Basics
- How to make an invoice, step by stepAn invoice is a bill that asks your customer to pay. Write your business details, the customer's details, an invoice number and date, the items with price and tax, the total, and how to pay. Then send it as a PDF.Read guide · 6 min
- Invoice number format: rules and examplesGive every invoice a unique number that goes up in order, such as INV-1001, INV-1002. In India a GST invoice number can be up to 16 characters, can use letters, numbers, hyphen and slash, and must be unique for the financial year.Read guide · 5 min
- Proforma invoice vs tax invoice: what is the difference?A proforma invoice is sent before the sale to show the buyer the final price, often for advance payment or a bank loan. A tax invoice is sent after the sale and is the legal bill for accounts and GST or VAT.Read guide · 5 min
GST India
- What must be on a GST tax invoiceA GST tax invoice must show your name, address and GSTIN, a unique invoice number and date, the buyer's details, HSN or SAC codes, quantity and value of each item, the GST rate and amount (CGST + SGST or IGST), place of supply, and a signature.Read guide · 7 min
- What is a delivery challan and when do you need one?A delivery challan is a document that goes with goods when they move without a tax invoice, for example for job work, on approval, or to another branch. Under GST Rule 55 it needs a number, date, both parties' details, HSN, quantity and value, and is made in three copies.Read guide · 5 min
- HSN vs SAC code: what is the difference?HSN (Harmonized System of Nomenclature) codes are for goods, and SAC (Services Accounting Code) codes are for services. Businesses with turnover up to ₹5 crore show 4-digit codes on B2B invoices, and above ₹5 crore show 6-digit codes on all invoices.Read guide · 4 min
Worldwide
- Invoice payment terms explainedPayment terms tell your customer when to pay. "Due on receipt" means pay now, "Net 30" means within 30 days of the invoice date. Write the terms and the due date on every invoice.Read guide · 5 min
- UK VAT invoice requirementsIf you are VAT-registered in the UK, a full VAT invoice must show a unique number, your name, address and VAT number, the invoice date and tax point, the customer's name and address, and for each item the description, quantity, price excluding VAT, VAT rate and totals.Read guide · 5 min
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