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Simple Invoice

Who and when
Line items
Currency symbol
Items
DescriptionQtyUnit price Remove
Tax and notes
Sales tax or VAT
Total due —
Subtotal
—
Tax
—
Due date
—
Line items
—
Invoice text
—

A simple invoice lists who is billing whom, a unique invoice number, the date, each item with quantity and price, and the total due. Enter one design job at £100 with 20% VAT and this generator shows a £20 tax line, £120 due, and a due date 30 days after the invoice date.

About this tool

Freelancers, sole traders and small shops often need to bill a customer once or twice a month without signing up for accounting software. Here you type your business details, the customer, an invoice number, the date and your payment terms, then add line items. Each line is multiplied out, the lines are summed, tax is added at the rate you set, and the due date is counted from the invoice date. The result is a table of lines, the working behind every figure and a plain-text invoice you can copy into an email or document. It does not number invoices for you, keep a record of past ones, or check that your tax rate is the right one for your country and goods.

How to use it

  1. Fill in the parties

    Add your business name and address, the customer, an invoice number and the invoice date, then set payment terms in days with the stepper.

  2. Add line items

    Pick a currency symbol, then enter a description, quantity and unit price on each row. Use Add line item for more rows.

  3. Switch on tax if you charge it

    Choose Add tax and enter the rate; tax is worked out on the subtotal.

  4. Copy the invoice text

    Read the total, due date and the working, then copy the invoice text block into your email or letterhead.

Examples

£100 of design work with 20% VAT

Your business
Ash Design Ltd, 4 Mill Lane, Leeds
Bill to
Brook Cafe, 12 High Street, York
Invoice number
INV-104
Invoice date
2026-10-01
Payment terms
30
Currency symbol
£
Items
Logo design × 1 × 100
Sales tax or VAT
Add tax
Tax rate
20

Result Total due: 120.00
Subtotal: 100
Tax: 20
Due date: October 31, 2026
Line items: 1
Invoice text: INVOICE INV-104

From:
Ash Design Ltd, 4 Mill Lane, Leeds

Bill to:
Brook Cafe, 12 High Street, York

Invoice date: October 1, 2026
Due date: October 31, 2026 (30 days)

1. Logo design — 1 x £100.00 = £100.00

Subtotal: £100.00
Tax (20%): £20.00
Total due: £120.00

  1. Line 1: 1 × 100.00 = 100.00
  2. Subtotal = 100.00
  3. Tax = 100.00 × 20% = 20.00
  4. Total = 100.00 + 20.00 = 120.00
  5. Due date = October 1, 2026 + 30 days = October 31, 2026

One line at £100 with UK standard-rate VAT gives a £20 tax line and £120 due 30 days after 1 October.

3.5 hours of labour plus parts

Your business
Sam Ortiz Plumbing
Bill to
J. Patel, 9 Oak Road
Invoice number
2026-017
Invoice date
2026-10-01
Payment terms
14
Currency symbol
$
Items
Labour (hours) × 3.5 × 60; Copper pipe, 2 m × 2 × 12.5
Sales tax or VAT
No tax

Result Total due: 235.00
Subtotal: 235
Tax: 0
Due date: October 15, 2026
Line items: 2
Invoice text: INVOICE 2026-017

From:
Sam Ortiz Plumbing

Bill to:
J. Patel, 9 Oak Road

Invoice date: October 1, 2026
Due date: October 15, 2026 (14 days)

1. Labour (hours) — 3.5 x $60.00 = $210.00
2. Copper pipe, 2 m — 2 x $12.50 = $25.00

Subtotal: $235.00
Total due: $235.00

  1. Line 1: 3.5 × 60.00 = 210.00
  2. Line 2: 2 × 12.50 = 25.00
  3. Subtotal = 235.00
  4. Total = 235.00 + 0.00 = 235.00
  5. Due date = October 1, 2026 + 14 days = October 15, 2026

3.5 × $60 = $210 of labour and 2 × $12.50 = $25 of pipe make a $235 invoice due in 14 days.

How it is calculated

Line amount = quantity × unit price; Subtotal = sum of line amounts; Tax = Subtotal × rate ÷ 100; Total = Subtotal + Tax; Due date = invoice date + terms in days

quantity
Units, hours or items on one line
unit price
Price for one unit before tax
rate
Sales tax or VAT percentage applied to the subtotal
terms
Days the customer has to pay; 0 means due on receipt

Every line amount is rounded to the cent before summing, so the lines on the invoice add up exactly to the subtotal shown. Tax is then charged once on the whole subtotal, the way most single-rate invoices are prepared, and rounded to the cent. The due date counts calendar days, so 30-day terms from 1 October give 31 October regardless of weekends.

Sources

When not to use it

  • Items taxed at different rates on one invoice need a per-line tax breakdown this layout does not give.
  • A VAT-registered UK business issuing a full VAT invoice must also show its VAT number and the tax point.
  • Recurring billing with sequential numbering and payment tracking belongs in accounting software.

Common mistakes

  • Reusing an invoice number; each invoice needs its own unique number.
  • Typing the tax-inclusive price as the unit price and then adding tax again.
  • Leaving out the customer's address or your contact details, which many tax authorities expect on an invoice.

Frequently asked questions

What must a basic invoice include?

GOV.UK lists a unique identification number, your company name, address and contact information, the customer's name and address, a clear description of what you are charging for, the date the goods or service were provided, the date of the invoice, the amount being charged, any VAT, and the total amount owed. Other countries have similar lists.

How is the due date worked out?

The payment terms in days are added to the invoice date as calendar days. An invoice dated 1 October with 30-day terms is due on 31 October. Setting terms to 0 marks the invoice as due on receipt.

Is tax charged per line or on the total?

On the subtotal, once. For a single rate the result can differ from per-line tax by a cent at most, because of rounding. If your items carry different rates, split them into separate invoices or use software that taxes each line.

Can I use decimal quantities such as hours?

Yes. A quantity of 3.5 at a unit price of 60 gives a line amount of 210.00. Quantities must be above zero and prices zero or more.

What does the currency symbol change?

Only the symbol printed in the invoice text. No conversion takes place, so enter prices in the currency you are billing in, or choose None and write the currency code in the note.

Where do bank details go?

Use the payment details field. Whatever you type there is added at the bottom of the invoice text, after the total due, so the customer sees how to pay right below the amount.