A Credit Note (German: Gutschrift, French: Note de crédit) is a commercial document issued by a seller to partially or fully reverse a prior invoice. It reduces the buyer's outstanding liability and is used for returns, pricing corrections, or cancellations.
In structured e-invoicing, credit notes are distinct document types with their own XML elements:
| Format | Credit Note element |
|---|---|
| UBL 2.1 | <CreditNote> (separate document type from <Invoice>) |
| UN/CEFACT CII | <rsm:CrossIndustryInvoice> with TypeCode 381 |
| eBill | Supported as a negative-amount corrective invoice |
A credit note must reference the original invoice number in the BillingReference (UBL) or InvoiceReferencedDocument (CII) element to be properly matched in the buyer's ERP.
Key facts
- Document type code: 381 (UN/CEFACT UNCL 1001)
- Must reference: the original invoice (number + date)
- Reduces: the buyer's accounts payable and the seller's accounts receivable
- VAT: must mirror the tax treatment of the original invoice