Gutschrift

Gutschrift is a document issued by a seller to a buyer to record a reduction of the amount owed, often arising from returns, rebates, price corrections or errors in an invoice. It serves as proof of an adjustment to the original transaction and can be applied to future purchases or refunded, depending on the agreement between the parties. In many jurisdictions, a Gutschrift also affects tax treatment, reducing the associated value-added tax when applicable.

A Gutschrift typically contains key information such as a unique Gutschrift number, the date of issue, a reference to the original invoice (including invoice number and date), the names and addresses of the parties, the net amount, the tax amount, the gross total, and the reason for the credit. Additional details may include the purchase order number, line items affected, and terms for applying the credit. The document is commonly used for merchandise returns, discounts granted after invoicing, or corrections to invoiced prices or quantities.

In accounting, a Gutschrift reduces the seller’s receivables and, depending on the jurisdiction, adjusts revenue and tax liabilities. For the buyer, it reduces the amount payable to the seller and, where applicable, may enable the deduction or reclaiming of input tax. A Gutschrift may be settled by applying the credit to future invoices or by issuing a refund. It is distinct from a debit note, which is typically used to request additional charges or corrections from the buyer rather than to acknowledge a credit.