What is an invoice date?
The invoice date is the date an invoice is created and officially issued to a client. It marks the beginning of the payment timeline — all Net payment terms (Net 7, Net 15, Net 30) are calculated from the invoice date. For example, a Net 30 invoice dated May 1 has a due date of May 31. The invoice date also determines which accounting period the revenue is recognized in.
What is the difference between an invoice date and a due date?
The invoice date is when you create and send the invoice. The due date is when payment is expected — calculated by adding the payment term window to the invoice date. Invoice Date + Payment Term Days = Due Date. Example: Invoice date May 1 + Net 30 = Due date May 31. Both dates should appear on every invoice.
Should the invoice date be the delivery date or the date I send the invoice?
Use the date you actually send the invoice — not the delivery date, not the project start date. If you deliver work on May 5 and send the invoice on May 7, the invoice date is May 7. You can note the service delivery period in the invoice description: 'Web design services — delivered May 5, 2026.' The invoice date itself should always reflect when the invoice was issued.
Can I backdate an invoice?
You can date an invoice on an earlier date if you forgot to invoice at the time of service and are issuing it retroactively. This should be an honest reflection of when the work was completed. However, backdating to artificially extend a client's payment window, or to move revenue into a different tax period for accounting purposes, is considered improper practice and can create legal and tax complications.
Does the invoice date affect late fee calculations?
Yes. Late fees are calculated from the due date, which is derived from the invoice date plus your payment terms. If you use an incorrect invoice date, your late fee timeline shifts accordingly. A correct invoice date ensures that overdue notices go out at the right time and that any late fee you apply is contractually defensible.
What is the invoice date used for in accounting?
In accounting, the invoice date is the transaction date recorded in your books. Under accrual accounting, it determines when revenue is recognized — you record the income on the invoice date, regardless of when payment arrives. Under cash-basis accounting, revenue is recorded when payment is received, but the invoice date is still used to track accounts receivable aging and overdue follow-up.