Invoice Date vs Due Date - What's the Difference?

Two dates, two different purposes. Here is what each one means.

Updated March 9, 2026 by invoice.Now.

Invoice Date

The invoice date is the day the invoice is created and sent. It marks the official start of the billing record and usually starts the payment-term clock. For accounting and tax reporting, the period in which revenue is recognized depends on your accounting method. The IRS distinguishes between cash and accrual accounting methods, so the invoice date is not the only factor.

In most cases, the invoice date is the day you finish the work or deliver the goods. Some businesses invoice on a fixed schedule (the 1st of each month, for example) regardless of when delivery happened.

Due Date

The due date is the deadline by which payment must be received. It is calculated from the invoice date based on the agreed payment terms. If you issue an invoice on March 1 with Net 30 terms, the due date is March 31.

The due date should be clearly visible on every invoice. It removes ambiguity and gives your client a concrete target, which reduces late payments.

How Payment Terms Connect the Two Dates

Payment terms define the gap between the invoice date and the due date. Common terms include:

Due on Receipt - Payment is expected immediately. The due date equals the invoice date.
Net 15 - Due 15 days after the invoice date.
Net 30 - Due 30 days after the invoice date. A widely used commercial term.
Net 60 - Due 60 days after the invoice date. Sometimes used for larger organizations or slower internal payment cycles.

Learn more about these terms in What Is Net 30?

Example Scenario

A web designer finishes a project on March 5, 2026. She sends the invoice the same day with Net 30 payment terms.

Invoice date: March 5, 2026
Payment terms: Net 30
Due date: April 4, 2026

If the client pays on March 20, the payment is 15 days early. If the client pays on April 10, the payment is 6 days late.

Common Mistakes

Omitting the due date. Stating "Net 30" without showing the actual due date forces the client to do math. Always include both.
Backdating the invoice date. Setting the invoice date earlier than the send date can confuse clients and create accounting issues.
Using vague language. "Please pay soon" is not a due date. Specify an exact calendar date.

Both dates are standard fields in the invoice editor. Set your payment terms once and the due date calculates automatically.

Create an invoice with clear dates and terms