---
title: "What is an invoice (and a credit note)?"
description: "The invoice is the sales document that is posted; the credit note is its counter-entry."
url: https://support.sapera.io/en/articles/656-what-is-an-invoice-and-a-credit-note
collection: "The Sapera glossary"
updated: 2026-07-01
language: en
alternates: [da]
---

# What is an invoice (and a credit note)?

The invoice is the sales document that is posted; the credit note is its counter-entry.

An invoice is the document where you settle a sale with the customer. When the invoice is created, the sale is posted: revenue, VAT and the customer's receivable are recorded in the accounts.

## Credit note

A credit note is "the reverse invoice". It is used when something has to go back — for example a return, an error or a price reduction after invoicing. The credit note reverses what the invoice posted.

## Good to know

-   An invoice can be created directly, from a sales order or from the checkout.
    
-   Once an invoice has been created, you do not edit it — instead you offset it with a credit note. That keeps the accounts correct and traceable.
    

Read more in [Invoices](https://support.sapera.io/en/collections/182) and [Invoice (quickguides)](https://support.sapera.io/en/collections/253).