305s/invoice-generator

Invoice Generator Skill

Overview

I help freelancers and small businesses create professional invoices quickly. Just tell me the details, and I'll generate a complete, properly formatted invoice.

What I can do:

• Create professional invoices in multiple formats
• Calculate taxes (VAT, GST, sales tax)
• Handle multiple currencies
• Support various payment terms
• Generate in English or Chinese

What I cannot do:

• File taxes for you
• Guarantee compliance with all local regulations
• Process actual payments

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How to Use Me

Step 1: Provide Basic Info

Tell me:

1. Your business details (name, address, tax ID if needed)
2. Client details (name, address)
3. Items/services (description, quantity, rate)
4. Invoice number (or I'll suggest one)
5. Payment terms (due date, accepted methods)

Step 2: I'll Generate

I'll create a complete invoice with:

• Professional layout
• Proper calculations
• Payment instructions
• Terms and conditions

Step 3: Export

Copy the output to your preferred tool:

• Paste into Word/Google Docs
• Use the markdown version
• Request HTML for web display

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Invoice Components

Required Elements

| Element | Description | Example | |---------|-------------|---------| | Invoice Number | Unique identifier | INV-2026-0001 | | Date | Issue date | January 29, 2026 | | Due Date | Payment deadline | February 28, 2026 | | From | Your business info | Company name, address | | Bill To | Client info | Client name, address | | Line Items | Services/products | Description, qty, rate, amount | | Total | Sum due | Amount with currency |

Optional Elements

| Element | When to Include | |---------|-----------------| | Tax ID | Required in many countries for B2B | | PO Number | If client provided purchase order | | Tax Breakdown | When charging VAT/GST/Sales Tax | | Late Fee Terms | If you charge for late payment | | Bank Details | For wire transfers | | Payment Link | For online payment |

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Tax Guidance by Region

United States

No federal invoice requirements, but good practices:

• Include your EIN if B2B
• State sales tax if applicable (varies by state)
• 1099 reporting if paying contractors $600+

Sales Tax Rates (examples): | State | Rate | Notes | |-------|------|-------| | California | 7.25% base | Up to 10.75% with local | | Texas | 6.25% base | Up to 8.25% with local | | New York | 4% state | Up to 8.875% with local | | Oregon | 0% | No sales tax |

European Union

VAT Invoice Requirements:

• Must include VAT number if registered
• Reverse charge for B2B cross-border
• Sequential invoice numbering required

Standard VAT Rates: | Country | Rate | |---------|------| | Germany | 19% | | France | 20% | | UK (post-Brexit) | 20% | | Netherlands | 21% | | Ireland | 23% |

Reverse Charge: For B2B services in EU, buyer may handle VAT. Include "Reverse Charge - VAT to be paid by recipient."

China

Invoice Requirements:

• Regular invoice vs. VAT special invoice (fapiao)
• Tax registration number required
• Official invoices must be issued through tax authority system

VAT Rates: | Type | Rate | |------|------| | General Goods | 13% | | Services | 6% | | Small-scale Taxpayer | 3% |

Australia

GST Requirements:

• 10% GST on most goods/services
• Must include ABN if registered
• GST-free for exports

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Payment Terms Reference

Common Terms

| Term | Meaning | |------|---------| | Due on Receipt | Pay immediately | | Net 15 | Due within 15 days | | Net 30 | Due within 30 days (most common) | | Net 60 | Due within 60 days | | 2/10 Net 30 | 2% discount if paid in 10 days, otherwise due in 30 |

Late Payment Policies

Example language:

"Invoices not paid within [X] days will incur a late fee of [1.5%] per month on the outstanding balance."

Legal maximums vary:

• US: Generally up to 18-24% annually
• UK: 8% + Bank of England base rate
• EU: ECB rate + 8%

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Output Format

Markdown Invoice

# INVOICE

**Invoice Number:** INV-2026-0042
**Date:** January 29, 2026
**Due Date:** February 28, 2026

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## From
[Your Business Name]
[Your Address]
[Your Email]
[Tax ID: XXX-XX-XXXX]

## Bill To
[Client Name]
[Client Address]
[Client Email]

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## Items

| Description | Qty | Rate | Amount |
|-------------|-----|------|--------|
| [Service 1] | 10 hrs | $100/hr | $1,000.00 |
| [Service 2] | 1 | $500 | $500.00 |

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|  | |
|---|---|
| **Subtotal** | $1,500.00 |
| **Tax (10%)** | $150.00 |
| **Total Due** | **$1,650.00** |

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## Payment Details

**Bank Transfer:**
Bank: [Bank Name]
Account: [Account Number]
Routing: [Routing Number]

**Or pay online:** [Payment Link]

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**Payment Terms:** Net 30
**Late Fee:** 1.5% per month on overdue balance

Thank you for your business!

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Examples

Example 1: Simple Freelance Invoice

User: Create an invoice for 20 hours of web development at $75/hour for Acme Corp. I'm John Smith, based in Austin, TX.

Me:

INVOICE

Invoice Number: INV-2026-0001 Date: January 29, 2026 Due Date: February 28, 2026

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From

John Smith Austin, TX 78701 [email protected]

Bill To

Acme Corp [Client Address]

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Items

| Description | Qty | Rate | Amount | |-------------|-----|------|--------| | Web Development Services | 20 hrs | $75.00/hr | $1,500.00 |

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| | | |---|---| | Total Due | $1,500.00 USD |

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Payment Terms: Net 30

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Example 2: With VAT (UK)

User: Invoice for consulting services to a UK client, £2000, need to add VAT

Me:

| | | |---|---| | Subtotal | £2,000.00 | | VAT (20%) | £400.00 | | Total Due | £2,400.00 GBP |

VAT Registration: GB123456789

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Example 3: Multiple Line Items

User: Invoice for: Logo design $500, Brand guidelines $1200, Business card design $300. Client is StartupXYZ.

Me:

| Description | Qty | Rate | Amount | |-------------|-----|------|--------| | Logo Design | 1 | $500.00 | $500.00 | | Brand Guidelines Document | 1 | $1,200.00 | $1,200.00 | | Business Card Design | 1 | $300.00 | $300.00 |

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| | | |---|---| | Total Due | $2,000.00 USD |

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Invoice Numbering Best Practices

Format Options

| Format | Example | Best For | |--------|---------|----------| | Sequential | 001, 002, 003 | Simple, low volume | | Year-Seq | 2026-001 | Easy to track by year | | Client-Seq | ACME-001 | Multiple clients | | Date-Seq | 20260129-01 | Date-based tracking |

Tips

• Never reuse invoice numbers
• Keep numbers sequential (gaps may raise audit questions)
• Include prefix for different services if needed

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Tips for Better Results

1. Provide complete info - The more details, the better the invoice
2. Specify currency - USD, EUR, GBP, CNY, etc.
3. Include tax requirements - Tell me if you need VAT/GST
4. Mention payment methods - Bank, PayPal, Stripe, etc.
5. Request specific format - Markdown, HTML, or plain text

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Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Missing due date - Always specify when payment is expected
2. Vague descriptions - "Consulting" is worse than "Marketing strategy consulting - Q1 campaign planning"
3. Wrong calculations - I'll double-check, but verify final numbers
4. Missing tax info - Required for B2B in many countries
5. No payment instructions - Make it easy to pay you!

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Limitations

• I generate text invoices, not PDFs directly
• Tax calculations are estimates - verify with accountant
• Can't integrate with accounting software
• Don't know your specific local requirements

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Languages

Works with multiple languages including English and Chinese. Just specify your preferred language when requesting an invoice.

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