Laskutustaan

Laskutustaan is the Finnish term referring to a company’s invoicing activity, i.e., the process of issuing and managing invoices for goods or services rendered. In everyday business, laskutus encompasses creating invoices, delivering them to customers, monitoring payments, and recording transactions in the accounting system. It also includes handling corrections, reminders, and possible refunds or credit notes.

A typical laskutustaan process involves several steps. First, the seller prepares an invoice with essential information: the issuer’s name and business identification, the customer’s details, an invoice date and a unique number, a description of the goods or services, quantities and prices, applicable VAT, total amount, and clear payment terms including the due date. In Finland, invoices may be sent on paper or electronically; electronic invoicing (e-invoicing) has become common and often utilizes standardized formats and networks such as PEPPOL.

Invoicing is governed by tax and accounting regulations. For VAT-registered firms, invoices must comply with VAT rules and enable proper VAT reporting and deduction. Timely and accurate invoicing supports cash flow, while proper records facilitate bookkeeping, accounts receivable management, and reconciliation of payments.

The concept also covers related aspects such as reminders for late payments, adjustments through credit notes, and handling supplier invoices (ostolaskut) as part of procurement and accounting. Compliance and archiving requirements mean retaining invoicing records for the period required by Finnish accounting and tax legislation. Overall, laskutustaan is a core function of financial administration in Finnish businesses.