Can an invoice be signed electronically?

Yes. Electronic signatures on commercial invoices are legally enforceable under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and state UETA statutes when intent, consent, attribution, and retention requirements are met.

Is an invoice admissible as proof of sale?

An invoice is strong commercial evidence of a sale and supports tax reporting and collections. For full evidentiary weight pair invoices with delivery receipts, payment confirmations, contracts, or shipping records.

What if invoice details are incorrect?

Incorrect names, TINs, or amounts can delay payment, trigger backup withholding at 24%, create IRS mismatches, and expose the issuer to penalties under IRC §6721 for incorrect or late information returns.

Do invoices require notarization?

Invoices rarely require notarization. Notarization or RON is uncommon for ordinary commercial invoices, though particular transactions or jurisdictional requirements may call for notarized documents—confirm with counsel when necessary.

How long must invoices be retained?

Retain invoices at least three years to meet IRS recordkeeping (IRC §6501(a)), longer if tax issues or industry rules apply. Healthcare billing with PHI requires six years under 45 CFR §164.530(j).

Can I send signed invoices across state lines?

Yes. ESIGN and state UETA laws permit interstate electronic delivery and signatures. Ensure recipient consent and accessibility, and account for any industry or state-specific exceptions.

Electronic Signature
Templates
Finance
Basic Invoice Form

Basic Invoice Form

This template is fully customizable. Edit the text, fill out the fields, and send it for signature. Give it a try!

COMMERCIAL INVOICE

SHIPPER / EXPORTER (Full name and address)

COMMERCIAL INVOICE NO.

CUSTOMER P.O.NO.

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN

DATE

B/L, AWB NO.

DATE OF EXPORT

CONSIGNEE (Full name and address)

TERMS OF PAYMENT

NOTIFY: INTERMEDIATE CONSIGNEE (Full name and address)

EXPORT REFERENCES

FORWARDING AGENT

AIR/OCEAN PORT OF DEPARTURE

EXPORTING CARRIER

INVOICE CURRENCY

PKGS.

DESCRIPTION

NET WT.

GROSS WT.

QUANTITY

UNIT PRICE

TOTAL VALUE

PACKAGES MARKS AND NO.

MISC. CHARGES (Packing, Insurance, etc.)

INVOICE TOTAL

CERTIFICATIONS

AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE

Phone (781) 961 – 3540 Fax (781) 961 – 3058 | WWW.UWINC.COM

Commercial Invoice Instructions

Item 1. SHIPPER / EXPORTER - the name and address of the principal party responsible for effecting export of the named good(s).

Item 2. CONSIGNEE - the name and address of the person/company to whom the goods are shipped for the designated end use.

Item 3. INTERMEDIATE CONSIGNEE - the name and address of the party who effects delivery of the merchandise to the ultimate consignee.

Item 4. FORWARDING AGENT - the name and address of the duly authorized forwarder acting as agent for the exporter.

Item 5. EXPORTING CARRIER - the carrier assigned by the shipper / exporter to move the good(s).

Item 6. COMMERCIAL INVOICE NO. - Commercial Invoice number assigned by the exporter.

Item 7. DATE - the date the commercial invoice was created.

Item 8. CUSTOMER P.O. NO. - customer's reference of order number.

Item 9. B/L, AWB NO. - Bill of Lading, or Air Waybill, number if known.

Item 10. COUNTRY OF ORIGIN - country of origin of good(s) in shipment.

Item 11. DATE OF EXPORT - actual date of export of merchandise.

Item 12. TERMS OF PAYMENT - describe the terms, conditions, and currency of settlement as agreed upon the vendor and purchaser per the Pro Forma Invoice, customer Purchase Order, and/or Letter of Credit.

Item 13. EXPORT REFERENCE - may be used to record other useful information, e.g. - other reference numbers, special handling requirements, routing requirements, etc.

Item 14. AIR/OCEAN PORT OF EMBARKATION - ocean port/pier, or airport to be used for embarkation of merchandise.

Item 15. INVOICE CURRENCY – the currency the commercial invoice values are calculated in.

Item 16. PACKAGES - record number of packages, cartons, or containers per description line.

Item 17. DESCRIPTION - provide a full description of items shipped, the type of container, the gross weight per container, and the quantity and unit of measure of the merchandise.

Item 18. NET WEIGHT - record total net weight per description line.

Item 19. GROSS WEIGHT - record total gross weight per description line.

Item 20. QUANTITY - record total number of units per description line.

Item 21. UNIT PRICE - record the unit price of the merchandise per the unit of measure.

Item 22. TOTAL VALUE - compute the extended total value of each line.

Item 23. PACKAGE MARKS - record any marks and numbers that are identified on the shipping containers.

Item 24. MISC. CHARGES - record any miscellaneous charges which are to be paid for by the customer.

Item 25. CERTIFICATIONS - any certifications or declarations required of the shipper regarding any information recorded on the commercial invoice.

What the Basic Invoice Form Is and why it matters

The Basic Invoice Form is a standard billing document used by businesses and individuals to request payment for goods or services. It records seller and buyer details, an itemized list of goods or services, quantities, unit prices, taxes, discounts, payment terms, and the total amount due. In the United States invoices also support accounting, sales tax reporting, and proof of transaction for audits. This template is designed for clarity, legal sufficiency under common commercial practices, and easy integration with electronic workflows and eSignature platforms that comply with ESIGN and UETA.

Why using a standardized invoice helps your business

A Basic Invoice Form standardizes billing, reduces disputes, and documents payment obligations clearly for both parties. It simplifies accounting, supports tax reporting, and facilitates electronic signing and recordkeeping under U.S. e-signature law, improving recovery and audit readiness without changing substantive contract terms.

Typical professionals and teams that issue invoices

Common users include freelancers, small businesses, and corporate accounting teams responsible for issuing and tracking payments.

Freelancers and consultants: issue invoices per project or milestone; include payment terms and invoice number.
Small businesses: use invoices for sales tax tracking, customer records, and accounts receivable management.
Corporate finance: automate invoicing in ERP systems and reconcile against purchase orders and payments.

Matching the issuer and receiver roles ensures correct tax reporting, proper remittance of sales tax, and smoother reconciliations.

Core elements every Basic Invoice Form should include

Core elements of a professional Basic Invoice Form clarify obligations, support accounting, and enable electronic workflows for billing, collections, and tax compliance.

Header

Business name, logo, contact information, and invoice number. Include billing and service addresses and a clear issue date to support tax reporting and reconciliation.

Recipient

Customer name and billing address, tax ID if required, and purchase order number. Accurate recipient details prevent payment delays and tax reporting errors.

Line Items

Detailed descriptions of goods or services, quantities, unit prices, discounts, and taxable status. Use clear units and item codes when possible for ledger mapping.

Totals

Subtotal, itemized taxes, shipping or handling, discounts, and final amount due. Show currency and rounding rules to avoid accounting discrepancies.

Payment Terms

Due date, accepted payment methods, late fees, and bank or remittance details. State net days (Net 30) and any early-payment discounts explicitly.

Legal Notes

Include invoice terms, return policy, and governing law. For B2C, include consumer disclosure where applicable and any tax registration numbers.

Essential invoice data elements at a glance

Seller Info: Legal name, address, tax ID.

Buyer Info: Customer name, billing address, PO number.

Invoice Number: Unique identifier, sequential format.

Dates: Issue date and due date, MM/DD/YYYY.

Amounts: Unit price, quantity, taxes, total.

Payment Instructions: Bank details, payment link, terms.

Step-by-step: complete and deliver an invoice

Follow these steps to complete and deliver a Basic Invoice Form accurately and consistently every time.

01

Prepare Document: Enter seller and buyer details and assign invoice number.
02

Itemize Charges: List each product or service with quantity and unit price.
03

Calculate Totals: Apply taxes, discounts, then verify subtotal and grand total.
04

Send and Track: Deliver via email or e-invoicing and record delivery.

Configuring an online invoice workflow

Configure an electronic workflow so the Basic Invoice Form routes correctly to payers, accounting, and collections with auditability.

Field	Configuration
Signer Order	Sender → Approver → Recipient
Authentication	Email link with optional SMS two-factor
Notifications	Email reminders and delivery receipts
Archive	Save PDF and audit trail to cloud storage

How e-invoicing and electronic signing typically flow

Overview of the e-invoicing and signing flow from creation through payment reconciliation and record retention.

Upload: Start with a PDF or DOCX invoice template in your system.
Prepare Fields: Add invoice, amount, and signature fields for payer or approver.
Send: Deliver via secure link or integrated ERP email.
Complete: Signer authenticates, signs, and receives a completed PDF plus audit trail.

Platform and integration expectations for electronic invoices

Choose platforms that support PDF, DOCX, and integration with accounting systems and storage providers securely.

Formats: PDF, DOCX, and XLSX supported.
Integrations: Salesforce, NetSuite, Microsoft 365, Google Workspace.
Security: TLS 1.2/1.3 in transit, AES-256 at rest.

Timing considerations and related filing dates

Key timing considerations when issuing invoices, filing related tax forms, and applying payment terms for collections and compliance.

Issue Date:

Record as MM/DD/YYYY; triggers payment schedule and accounting period.

Payment Due:

State Net terms (Net 30, Net 60) and specify late fee calculations.

Sales Tax Filing:

Collect tax per jurisdiction; remit per state deadlines and thresholds.

1099 Reporting:

Provide 1099-NEC to contractors when payments meet IRS thresholds.

Record Retention:

Keep records per IRS and industry retention schedules; see retention section.

Common penalties and risks from incorrect invoices

Backup Withholding: 24% rate applies for missing/incorrect TINs.

1099 Penalties: Late/incorrect info return penalties $60–$330 per form.

Intentional Disregard: $660+ per form with no maximum.

Late Payment Fees: Contract-specified late fees or interest may apply.

Sales Tax Liability: Failure to collect/remit can trigger state assessments and interest.

I-9 Violations: Paperwork penalties range $281–$2,789 per violation.

Price and capability comparison for eSignature options (signNow first)

Comparison of starting price and common capabilities across vendors; signNow is listed first per platform naming conventions used here.

	signNow	DocuSign	Adobe Sign	PandaDoc	HelloSign
Starting Price	$8/user/mo	$15/user/mo	$14/user/mo	$19/user/mo	$15/user/mo
Free Trial	7-day free trial	Varies by offer	Varies by offer	Varies by offer	Varies by offer
Bulk Send	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Audit Trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA Compliant	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Envelope Cap	No cap	100 envelopes/user/year	No cap	No cap	No cap

Practical invoice scenarios and outcomes

Realistic examples show how a Basic Invoice Form supports faster payment, clearer records, and fewer disputes across common business situations.

Freelancer Billing

A freelance graphic designer issues weekly invoices to multiple clients using a template and eSign-enabled delivery for faster payment.

Result: average payment time drops from 14 to 3 business days.
The designer includes itemized line items, a payment link, and automated reminders; this reduced disputes and simplified quarterly tax reporting without in-person signatures.

SMB Supplier

A small supplier consolidates monthly invoices for recurring customers and delivers them via secure links integrated with accounting software.

Result: reconciliation time reduced by 60% in accounts receivable.
Accurate SKU-level line items and linked audit trails helped resolve chargebacks faster and improved cash flow predictability for the supplier.

Frequently asked questions about the Basic Invoice Form and e-signing

Answers to common questions about legal validity, common errors, retention, and cross-jurisdiction e-signing for invoices.

Need help? Contact support

Can an invoice be signed electronically?
Yes. Electronic signatures on commercial invoices are legally enforceable under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and state UETA statutes when intent, consent, attribution, and retention requirements are met.
Is an invoice admissible as proof of sale?
An invoice is strong commercial evidence of a sale and supports tax reporting and collections. For full evidentiary weight pair invoices with delivery receipts, payment confirmations, contracts, or shipping records.
What if invoice details are incorrect?
Incorrect names, TINs, or amounts can delay payment, trigger backup withholding at 24%, create IRS mismatches, and expose the issuer to penalties under IRC §6721 for incorrect or late information returns.
Do invoices require notarization?
Invoices rarely require notarization. Notarization or RON is uncommon for ordinary commercial invoices, though particular transactions or jurisdictional requirements may call for notarized documents—confirm with counsel when necessary.
How long must invoices be retained?
Retain invoices at least three years to meet IRS recordkeeping (IRC §6501(a)), longer if tax issues or industry rules apply. Healthcare billing with PHI requires six years under 45 CFR §164.530(j).
Can I send signed invoices across state lines?
Yes. ESIGN and state UETA laws permit interstate electronic delivery and signatures. Ensure recipient consent and accessibility, and account for any industry or state-specific exceptions.

Explore Templates

Event or Venue Booking Form and Quotation Request Sand Supply Quotation Common Quotation Form Freight Quotation Auto Insurance Quote Request Quotation Template

be ready to get more

Join over 28 million airSlate SignNow users

Sign Now