A purchase invoice is a document that a buyer receives from a seller when they buy goods or services. It records what was purchased, in what quantity, at what price, along with taxes and payment terms. It acts as proof of purchase and is used to manage accounts payable and claim input tax credit.
In simple terms, the purchase invoice meaning is a bill sent to the buyer after an order is fulfilled, stating the amount due.
A purchase invoice format is a structured layout that includes all the necessary details to record a business purchase. It typically contains:
You can use templates in Excel, Word, or PDF. A well-designed format ensures accuracy, consistency, and GST compliance. Businesses often maintain a clear record of both sales and purchase invoices for bookkeeping.
A proper purchase invoice bill is critical for several reasons:
For companies using purchase invoice discounting, these invoices can even be used to secure short-term funding based on unpaid supplier bills.
Purchase invoices are used across many types of businesses and industries. Some examples include:
You can easily find a purchase invoice example in any standard accounting process, especially when working with GST or vendor billing systems.
Here are simple steps to create your own purchase invoice template:
Businesses often use the same style for both sales invoice and purchase invoice to maintain consistency.