Credit Note Template
A real credit note, issued against the invoice it reverses — never a standalone negative-amount fabricator. Make the invoice below; the credit note follows it.
Or fill it in right here — no download needed
From
Bill to
Line items
Website design package$1,800.00
Rush delivery fee$150.00
Total$1,950.00
Download the template
Frequently asked questions
- Why does this page start with an invoice, not a credit note?
- Because a credit note only means something as a reversal of a specific invoice — it can't exist on its own any more than a receipt can. Make the invoice below, then issue a credit note against it in one step. The downloadable files here were produced exactly that way: each is a real credit note that names the sample invoice it credits.
- What is a credit note used for?
- A credit note reverses some or all of an invoice — an overcharge, a returned item, a cancelled line, a goodwill adjustment — without deleting or editing the original invoice, which keeps the paper trail intact. It carries the same line items as the amount being reversed, with the total showing as a negative.
- Is a credit note the same as a refund?
- No. A credit note is the paperwork — it records that money is owed back. A refund is the actual transfer of money. You can issue a credit note and settle it as a refund, or apply it against a future invoice instead; the credit note itself doesn't move any money.
- Can a credit note be for more than the invoice it credits?
- No — a credit note can never exceed what its invoice actually billed, whether issued all at once or in parts across several credit notes. That cap is enforced automatically, so a credit note can't accidentally manufacture money the invoice never asked for.
- What formats does the credit note template come in?
- PDF, Word (.docx), and Excel (.xlsx) — each a real credit note generated against the sample invoice above. Upload the .docx or .xlsx to Google Drive to open it in Google Docs or Sheets.