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Credit Note
CN-001
From
Your business
Bill to
Client
| What's being credited | Qty | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| — | 1 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
Free Credit Note Generator
Issue a credit note against an invoice — for an overcharge, a cancelled item or a goodwill refund. Editing the original invoice after it's been sent breaks your records; a credit note is the correct way to undo part of it.
Built by Slashit · Last updated 27 September 2026
What is the credit note generator?
A credit note cancels part or all of an invoice you have already sent. Something was overcharged, an item was cancelled, or you have decided to refund a client as a goodwill gesture. The instinct is to edit the original invoice and resend it, and that is the one thing you should not do: an invoice that has been issued is a record, and quietly changing it breaks the trail for both your accounts and the client's. A credit note is the correct way to undo part of one. It references the original invoice, states what is being credited and why, and leaves both documents intact.
How our free credit note generator works
Enter your details and the client's
The same two parties as the invoice you are correcting.
Reference the original invoice
Use the 'against invoice' field. Without it, a credit note is just a number with no context.
List what is being credited
One line per item, with the amount. Credit only the part that was wrong, not the whole invoice, unless the whole invoice was wrong.
Say why in the notes
One honest sentence. It is what makes the document make sense to an accountant next year.
Download the PDF
Send it to the client and keep it with the original invoice.
What can you use the credit note generator for?
You billed too many hours
Credit the difference. The client sees exactly what was corrected and why, which is better for trust than a silently revised invoice.
A client cancelled one item from a bigger job
Credit that line only. The rest of the invoice stays due.
You promised a discount after invoicing
A credit note applies the discount without touching the original figure.
A refund on work already paid for
The credit note is the paperwork; the bank transfer is the money. You need both.
Who uses our free credit note generator?
Freelancers
Correct an invoice you sent with the wrong hours or the wrong rate, without pretending it never happened.
Shops and e-commerce sellers
Handle a return or a partial refund with a document that matches your books.
Agencies
Credit a cancelled item from a larger project invoice, leaving the rest payable.
Anyone using an accountant
Give them the document they expect instead of an amended invoice they will have to query.
Why use the credit note generator?
Keeps the original invoice intact
Two clean documents that add up, rather than one that has quietly changed.
References the invoice it credits
The link between the two is what makes either of them make sense later.
Nothing is uploaded
Amounts, names and reasons stay on your device.
Credit note, refund, or a new invoice?
| Situation | What to issue |
|---|---|
| You overcharged on an unpaid invoice | Credit note — the client then pays the reduced balance |
| You overcharged on an invoice already paid | Credit note, plus an actual refund of the money |
| The client cancelled part of the work | Credit note for that part only |
| You undercharged | A second invoice for the difference, not a credit note |
| You sent the invoice to the wrong client | Credit note cancelling it in full, then invoice the right client |
Tips for getting the best results
Never edit a sent invoice
If it has left your outbox it is a record. Correct it with a credit note instead.
Use a separate number sequence
CN-001 onwards. Mixing credit notes into your invoice numbering makes your totals hard to trust.
Credit the exact amount, including tax
If you charged tax on the original line, the credit needs to reverse the tax too — otherwise your tax return will not balance.
Write the reason in plain words
'Credit for 4 hours billed in error on INV-018' takes five seconds and saves an email thread.
Frequently asked questions
What is a credit note?
A document that reduces or cancels an invoice you have already issued. It states how much is being credited, against which invoice, and why.
Is a credit note the same as a refund?
No. A credit note is paperwork; a refund is money moving. If the invoice was already paid, you need both — the note for the records and the transfer for the client.
Can I just edit the original invoice instead?
You should not. A sent invoice is a record, and both sides may have entered it into their accounts. A credit note keeps the trail honest.
Does a credit note have to reference an invoice?
It should always name the invoice it credits. Without that reference, neither your accountant nor the client's can match the two.
How do I number credit notes?
Keep them in their own sequence, such as CN-001. Separate from invoices, with no gaps.
What about tax on a credit note?
Reverse the tax you originally charged on the credited amount. If you are registered for VAT or sales tax, the credit note is what supports the adjustment on your return.
