What Is a Pro Forma Invoice?

A pro forma invoice is a preliminary document a seller sends to a buyer before goods or services are delivered. It looks like a regular invoice but is not a demand for payment and does not record GST collected — it's essentially a detailed quote in invoice format.

Pro forma invoices are commonly used to:

  • Confirm pricing and quantities before a customer commits to an order
  • Support international shipping documentation and customs declarations
  • Request a deposit or progress payment on large jobs
  • Help the buyer secure financing or internal purchase approval

Always mark a pro forma invoice clearly with "Pro Forma" or "Not a Tax Invoice" so it isn't mistaken for the real thing. Once the goods or services are delivered, you replace the pro forma with a standard tax invoice that records the actual sale and GST. Only the final tax invoice supports the buyer's GST input tax credit claim. InvoiceSonic lets you create both pro forma and tax invoices using the same details — no double entry required.

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