
What is a proforma invoice? Uses, contents and VAT status
A proforma invoice looks like an invoice and is not one. Here's what it is for, what belongs on it, why it has no place in your books, and what you must issue the moment it gets paid.
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Founder and CEO at Quaderno
I'm a software engineer and product designer. In 2014 I founded Quaderno to make tax compliance simpler for online businesses.
I write about selling across borders: sales tax and VAT, invoicing and the decisions that come with growth.
145 articles

A proforma invoice looks like an invoice and is not one. Here's what it is for, what belongs on it, why it has no place in your books, and what you must issue the moment it gets paid.

DDP and DAP put the goods at the same door. The difference is who clears them and who is liable for the import VAT, which is a tax question long before it is a shipping one.

Peppol moves invoices between businesses across borders. Here's how the network works, who governs it, whether it's mandatory for you, and why you probably don't need your own Access Point.

A credit note cancels or reduces an invoice you have already issued. Here's what goes on one, when to send it, and what it does to the VAT you already reported.

Whether you charge GST comes down to three things: your sales into the country, who your customer is, and where they are. Here's how to work through all three.

DAC7 makes digital platforms report their sellers' income to EU tax authorities every January. Here's what it covers, who files, and what it means if you're the one being reported.

TaxJar's 2026 price increases have pushed many US e-commerce and SaaS businesses to evaluate alternatives. Here are eight SaaS tax software options compared by price, coverage, invoicing, and filing.

Streamlined Sales Tax simplifies registration and filing across 24 US states, and it can get you free tax software. Here is how SST works and whether you should join.

Master e-invoicing compliance with six proven best practices for encryption, API security, and data retention across global VAT/GST systems.

Spain's Verifactu system, explained for a business that is not Spanish: who it reaches, when it starts now that 2028 is expected, and how it fits the other regimes you already handle.