Hyvityslasku

Hyvityslasku is a financial document issued by a seller to a buyer to rectify a previously issued invoice by reducing the amount owed or recording a refund. It is commonly used when goods are returned, prices are corrected, discounts are granted after the fact, or an error in the original invoice is discovered.

The document should clearly reference the original invoice, including the original invoice number and date, as well as the seller and buyer information, the date of issue, a unique credit note number, and the reason for the credit. If lines are affected, the credit note lists the items and the amounts being reversed or reduced; otherwise it may present a single total credit. The credit note states the net amount and, where applicable, the VAT amount that is credited, and it is usually issued in the same currency as the original transaction.

Accounting and VAT treatment: Issuing a hyvityslasku reduces the seller’s accounts receivable and revenue (or recorded sales returns) and reduces the buyer’s accounts payable. VAT treatment follows the regulation governing the original sale: the VAT liability or input VAT is adjusted accordingly, so that the tax basis reflects the credit. In many systems, the credit note is posted against the original invoice to maintain a clear audit trail.

Practical considerations: Hyvityslaskut should be sequentially numbered and linked to the original invoice for traceability. They are commonly used in business-to-business contexts and should be retained for tax and accounting records in accordance with local regulations. While the term is Finnish, the instrument corresponds to what is widely known as a credit note in other jurisdictions.