kreditfaktura

Kreditfaktura (credit invoice), also known as a credit note, is a document issued by a seller to a buyer to correct an error or reduce the amount payable on a previously issued invoice. It serves as the counterpart to a debit invoice and is used to record refunds, price adjustments, returned goods, or service discounts after an original sale.

It typically references the original invoice, including its number and date, and includes its own unique credit note number, the issue date, the seller and buyer details, a description of the reason for the credit, the credit amount, and the applicable tax information if VAT or sales tax applies. The total may show net amount, tax amount, and the gross credit. The credit note should be sequentially numbered and traceable to the original invoice to maintain audit trails.

In accounting, issuing a kreditfaktura reduces accounts receivable and lowers revenue. It may require adjustments to VAT or other taxes; the tax authority rules vary by jurisdiction. In many systems, the credit note is used to offset an outstanding balance or to be applied to future purchases by the customer.

Use cases include returns of goods, incorrect charges, overbilling, or price adjustments after the original invoice. It can be issued even if the customer has already paid, in which case a refund or a credit against future orders may be offered. For international or cross-border transactions, the credit note provides documentation for tax compliance and client records.

Relation to other documents: a kreditfaktura is distinct from a refund or payment reversal; it is a formal financial document and, in many jurisdictions, required to formalize corrections or refunds processed after an invoice has been issued.