What data should the corrective invoice contain?

In business transactions, there are often situations that require modifying (correcting or updating) some information on the invoice. In this case, the entrepreneur may issue a correcting invoice (if the correction concerns its sale) or - in certain cases - a correcting note (if it corrects the purchase invoice).

Correction invoice - when are they issued?

Correcting invoices are issued in the case of:

• return of purchased goods for which the original (source) invoice was issued,
• finding a mistake in the price, rate or amount of tax on goods and services,
• granting discounts, returning goods to the seller, returning the buyer of undue amounts or advances, prepayments, advances or installments subject to taxation.

What errors can be corrected with a correction invoice?

With this type of document, you can correct invoice items that relate to:

• measures and quantity of goods sold or the scope of services provided,
• unit price of a good or service without the tax amount (net unit price),
• value of the goods or services provided to which the sale relates, without the tax amount (net sales value),
• tax rates,
• the sum of the net sales value of goods or services provided, broken down into individual tax rates, tax-free and non-taxable,
• the amount of tax on the sum of the net sales value of goods (services), broken down into amounts related to individual tax rates,
• the total amount due, including the tax due.

What should a correction invoice contain?

The elements that should be included in the corrective invoice depend on the reason for the correction, and actually on what they correct.

In the event that the seller, after issuing the invoice, granted the buyer a discount, discount or simply reduced the price of the goods sold or the service performed, he must issue a corrective invoice containing:

• sequential number and date of issue,
• data specified in art. 106e paragraph. 1 points 1-4,
• the period to which the discount or rebate applies,
• the amount of the discount or reduction granted and the amount of the reduction of output tax.

The above-described regulations apply in the case of:

• return of goods and packaging,
• refund to the buyer of part or all of the payment.

Correcting invoice increasing the price of the goods or service provided should contain at least:

• sequential number and date of issue,
• data contained in the invoice to which the corrective invoice relates: specified in art. 106e paragraph. 1 points 1-6; name (type) of goods or services subject to the price increase,
• the amount of the increase in output tax.

Any other adjustments should include:

• sequential number and date of issue,
• the data contained in the invoice to which the corrective invoice relates, as specified in art. 106e paragraph. 1 points 1-6,
• amounts given in error amount,
• correct amount.

Each correction invoice should contain the name "CORRECTING INVOICE" or "CORRECTION".

In certain situations, the seller should obtain confirmation of receipt of the correcting invoice by the buyer. This is necessary when it reduces the tax base or if there is a mistake in the tax amount on the invoice. Moreover, the confirmation is necessary when the correction is issued to the invoice in which the tax amount is higher than the due amount.