Invoice
Quick Answer
What is Invoice?
An invoice is the document requesting payment for goods or services delivered – the start of your cash-flow clock.
Invoice explained
Invoices need numbers, dates, your details, the customer’s details and clear payment terms. VAT vendors issue tax invoices meeting the VAT Act’s extra requirements.
Who it applies to: Every business that bills customers.
Cost: N/A.
Related terms and guides
Official source: Gov.za
Always verify this information with official South African government sources. Rules, fees and thresholds change. Check SARS, CIPC, the Department of Employment and Labour or gov.za before you act.
About BizAnswers: BizAnswers is a privately owned South African company – not a government department. Our guides are free to read and show you how to do things yourself through official channels. If you would rather have the paperwork handled for you, we assist individuals and businesses with filing their South African tax returns and staying compliant, which is a paid service, not a free government service. Contact us for help.
Last reviewed: September 2026 by the BizAnswers editorial team. How we write and check our guides.