> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.invopop.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Invoice schema

> The bill/invoice schema, its type values, and the tags that change how an invoice is interpreted.

[`bill/invoice`](https://docs.gobl.org/draft-0/bill/invoice) represents a payment claim for goods or services supplied under conditions agreed between the supplier and the customer. It is the most widely used schema and the basis of most workflows.

Invoices carry the [shared billing properties](/console/doc-schemas#shared-properties) alongside the type and tag values below.

## Types

An invoice's `type` sets its legal meaning. Invopop defaults to `standard` when no type is given.

| Type          | Meaning                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| ------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `standard`    | A regular commercial invoice between a supplier and a customer.                                                                                                                           |
| `proforma`    | A preview sent for the customer's validation before the final invoice. Tax authorities do not treat it as a fiscal document, but approving one can still create a contractual obligation. |
| `credit-note` | A partial or complete refund of a preceding document. A credit note *extends* the original, which remains valid. This is the most widely accepted correction method.                      |
| `debit-note`  | Additional charges added to a preceding document, for example an omitted shipping cost. Valid but rarely used — issuing a new invoice is usually cleaner.                                 |
| `corrective`  | A new document that *replaces* the preceding one entirely. Used for material errors in fields that cannot be adjusted by value, such as the customer's name, tax ID or the issue date.    |
| `other`       | A custom type for use with extensions. Selecting it disables the scenarios defined by regimes and addons, so it is not recommended for general use.                                       |

<Note>
  The correction types available to a document depend on its regime and addons. See [correction types by regime](/console/doc-correct#correction-types-by-regime).
</Note>

## Tags

Tags sit alongside `type` and describe circumstances that change how the invoice must be handled. Regimes and addons map them onto their own document classifications.

| Tag              | Effect                                                                                                                                                        |
| ---------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `simplified`     | B2C invoice issued without the customer's fiscal details. Local authorities usually cap the amount.                                                           |
| `reverse-charge` | The customer, not the supplier, accounts for the tax.                                                                                                         |
| `self-billed`    | The customer or a third party issues the invoice on the supplier's behalf.                                                                                    |
| `customer-rates` | Tax rates are determined by the customer's location rather than the supplier's. Typically used for digital goods and services.                                |
| `partial`        | Not the final invoice for the transaction, for example a staged invoice on a construction project.                                                            |
| `prepayment`     | Charges amounts in advance; the amounts are deducted from the final invoice.                                                                                  |
| `factoring`      | The invoice has been assigned to a third party for collection.                                                                                                |
| `bypass`         | Skips tax and total calculation while still normalising and validating. Reserved for importing historical data where original calculations must be preserved. |

Regimes and addons also add their own tags. For how tags and types combine into regime-specific document classifications, see [invoice scenarios](https://docs.gobl.org/use-cases/invoicing#invoice-scenarios) in the GOBL docs.

## FAQ

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Is a simplified invoice a separate document type?">
    No. `simplified` is a tag, not a type. A simplified invoice is a `bill/invoice` with `simplified` in its `$tags` array, which allows the `customer` block to be omitted. Each regime decides how to classify the resulting document and what value limits apply.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What is the difference between a simplified invoice and a receipt?">
    The key difference lies in *what* each document proves.

    A **receipt** confirms that a **payment has been made**. It is produced by a payment or cash-register device (for example, a card reader or POS terminal) and serves as proof of transaction settlement.

    An **invoice** documents the **sale of goods or services**. It is issued by a billing system (such as a POS, PMS, or ERP) and includes a breakdown of items, taxes, and totals.

    A **simplified invoice** is a type of invoice commonly used for **B2C transactions** and usually **does not include customer identification details**.

    **Example:**
    In a restaurant, the printed bill showing the items and taxes is the *simplified invoice*. After you pay by card, the slip produced by the card reader is the *receipt*. The first documents the sale; the second documents the payment.

    From a regulatory perspective:

    * **Fiscalization rules** typically apply to **payment recording devices** (cash registers, card readers) → *receipts*
    * **E-invoicing and e-reporting rules** apply to **billing systems** (POS, PMS, ERP) → *invoices*

    In some countries, these systems overlap; in others (like Italy), they are separate or mutually exclusive. This is why businesses often require **both** a fiscalization provider and an e-invoicing provider to remain fully compliant.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Related resources

|                |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
| -------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| Console        | <Icon icon="book" /> [Create documents](/console/doc-create)<br /><Icon icon="book" /> [Correct an invoice](/console/doc-correct)<br /><Icon icon="book" /> [Document references](/console/doc-references)                                             |
| Related Guides | <Icon icon="book" /> [Correct an invoice](/guides/correct-invoice)<br /><Icon icon="book" /> [PDF invoice](/guides/pdf-invoice)                                                                                                                        |
| GOBL           | <Icon icon="https://assets.invopop.com/icons/gobl.svg" /> [Invoice schema](https://docs.gobl.org/draft-0/bill/invoice)<br /><Icon icon="https://assets.invopop.com/icons/gobl.svg" /> [Invoicing use cases](https://docs.gobl.org/use-cases/invoicing) |
