invoicedate

Invoice date, often stored as invoicedate in databases, is the date on which an invoice is issued to a customer. It is a standard field in invoices, billing systems, and accounting software and typically appears on the document itself as well as in related records.

The invoice date is used to establish the accounting period and, in many cases, to determine when revenue is recognized and when tax obligations arise. It often serves as the basis for calculating the due date when payment terms (for example, net 30) are defined. The date can influence reporting, aging analyses, and cash flow planning by indicating when sales were officially billed.

Relation to other dates is important. The invoice date may differ from the service, delivery, or order date, which record when goods or services were provided. In some jurisdictions, invoice dates are legally significant for tax reporting purposes and must accurately reflect the issuance date; backdating invoices is typically illegal or discouraged.

In practical terms, invoicedate is a date field used by accounting software to filter, sort, and summarize invoices by period. It should be precise and consistent, with clear policies to avoid discrepancies across systems. When used across multiple currencies or regulatory regimes, standardized date formats (such as ISO 8601) help ensure clarity and interoperability. Some systems distinguish “invoice date” from “issue date” or “document date,” but these terms are often used interchangeably in practice.