Invoicing essentials

An invoice is a commercial document issued by a seller to a buyer that records the products or services supplied, the quantities and the agreed prices. A valid invoice typically contains the word "Invoice", a unique invoice number, the date of issue, the names, addresses and contact details of seller and buyer, a clear description of goods or services, quantities and unit prices, any applicable tax (such as VAT), the total amount due, the payment terms and the bank account or mobile-money details for payment. Invoices form a legal record of the sale and are used both for chasing payment and for tax filings.