Tax Invoice Guide: What It Is and What It Must Show
A tax invoice lets your customer reclaim the tax they paid. Learn the mandatory fields and the difference from a standard invoice.
What makes an invoice a tax invoice
A tax invoice is a standard invoice plus the specific information a tax authority requires so the buyer can claim an input-tax credit. Miss a field and your customer loses the credit — which is why AP teams check these carefully.
Typical mandatory fields
- The words "Tax Invoice"
- Supplier legal name, address and tax registration number
- Customer name, address and (for B2B) tax number
- Unique sequential number and issue date
- Description, quantity and unit price per line
- Taxable amount per rate, the rate applied, and tax amount per rate
- Total excluding tax, total tax, and total including tax
Multiple tax rates
If lines carry different rates, group and subtotal them by rate. A single blended tax line is not acceptable in most jurisdictions.
Exempt and zero-rated supplies
State the reason for the exemption or zero rating directly on the invoice (for example, "Reverse charge — customer to account for tax").
Disclaimer
Tax rules differ by country and change often. Treat this as general guidance and confirm requirements with a qualified accountant. See also our GST and VAT guides.
Maya Ellison
Maya Ellison writes about invoicing, cash flow and small-business finance for Invoice Creator. Every guide is reviewed against the fields our own invoice generator produces, so the advice matches the tool.
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