Invoice Date

What is the invoice date?

The invoice date is when you officially issue the invoice to your client. It appears on the invoice and serves as the reference point for payment terms. If your invoice date is March 1st and your terms are Net 30, payment is due by March 31st.

The invoice date should typically be the date you send the invoice, though it can also be set to when work was completed or goods were delivered.

Why the invoice date matters

The invoice date affects several things:

• Due date calculation — Payment terms count from this date
• Record keeping — Helps organize invoices chronologically
• Tax timing — May affect which tax year the income falls into
• Dispute resolution — Establishes when the client was billed

Invoice date best practices

Invoice promptly—the sooner you send an invoice, the sooner the payment clock starts. Use consistent dating practices for easier record keeping. If you complete work on the 15th but don't invoice until the 30th, you've effectively given the client 15 extra days to pay.