Accounting: what information is required on an invoice?

Have you just completed your first assignment? It's time to get your invoice right!

Indeed, knowing how to issue an invoice in due form is an important act for a company's accounts, but also for the tax authorities.

To guide you through the process of drawing up an ideal invoice, we take a look today at the compulsory information that must be included on your accounting documents!

 Invoice: mandatory information

First of all, it's essential to consider the mandatory information to be included on your invoices.

The number of such invoices is considerable, despite an attempt to simplify the process of issuing and formalizing invoices with the 2013 decree, which abbreviates certain VAT-related information and exempts invoices whose value is deemed "low" (less than €150) from several items of information.

Please note that the compulsory information to be included on the invoice is listed in articles 289-II and 242 nonies A of the CGI or Code Général des Impôts.

These are :

• The name or corporate name, registered office address, SIRET and NAF numbers of both the service provider and the customer
• Invoice dispatch date
• Invoice number
• Quantity, nature and unit price of goods or services
• All surcharges and other discounts
• Date of service
• Payment terms and all conditions relating to discounts and late payments (including penalties).

This information must appear on all invoices issued by your company.

Specific information

Secondly, there are a number of special features that you need to make visible on your invoices.

These particulars are linked in particular to VAT

As such, any company not subject to VAT is obliged to specify this with the phrase: "TVA non applicable, article 293 B du Code général des impôts" (VAT not applicable, article 293 B of the General Tax Code).

But also in the case of an intra-Community delivery or service which is exempt, the following statement must appear: "Exempt from VAT, article 262 ter, I of the CGI".

This form must be accompanied by the intra-Community VAT numbers of the buyer and seller on the invoice.

The consequences of a non-compliant invoice

Finally, it's important to consider the potential consequences of submitting a non-compliant invoice.

First of all, a penalty of up to €75,000 can be imposed on any company that fails to comply with these and other obligations.

In addition, you may be fined €15 for each missing item on each invoice.

In conclusion, drawing up an invoice can be a complex and time-consuming job. It may therefore be worthwhile to enlist the help of specialists to help you with your accounting and invoicing needs.