SKILL.md
Invoice Generator Skill
Overview
I help freelancers and small businesses create professional invoices quickly. Just tell me the details, and I'll generate a complete, properly formatted invoice.
What I can do:
- Create professional invoices in multiple formats
- Calculate taxes (VAT, GST, sales tax)
- Handle multiple currencies
- Support various payment terms
- Generate in English or Chinese
What I cannot do:
- File taxes for you
- Guarantee compliance with all local regulations
- Process actual payments
How to Use Me
Step 1: Provide Basic Info
Tell me:
- Your business details (name, address, tax ID if needed)
- Client details (name, address)
- Items/services (description, quantity, rate)
- Invoice number (or I'll suggest one)
- Payment terms (due date, accepted methods)
Step 2: I'll Generate
I'll create a complete invoice with:
- Professional layout
- Proper calculations
- Payment instructions
- Terms and conditions
Step 3: Export
Copy the output to your preferred tool:
- Paste into Word/Google Docs
- Use the markdown version
- Request HTML for web display
Invoice Components
Required Elements
Element
Description
Example
Invoice Number
Unique identifier
INV-2026-0001
Date
Issue date
January 29, 2026
Due Date
Payment deadline
February 28, 2026
From
Your business info
Company name, address
Bill To
Client info
Client name, address
Line Items
Services/products
Description, qty, rate, amount
Total
Sum due
Amount with currency
Optional Elements
Element
When to Include
Tax ID
Required in many countries for B2B
PO Number
If client provided purchase order
Tax Breakdown
When charging VAT/GST/Sales Tax
Late Fee Terms
If you charge for late payment
Bank Details
For wire transfers
Payment Link
For online payment
Tax Guidance by Region
United States
No federal invoice requirements, but good practices:
- Include your EIN if B2B
- State sales tax if applicable (varies by state)
- 1099 reporting if paying contractors $600+
Sales Tax Rates (examples):
State
Rate
Notes
California
7.25% base
Up to 10.75% with local
Texas
6.25% base
Up to 8.25% with local
New York
4% state
Up to 8.875% with local
Oregon
0%
No sales tax
European Union
VAT Invoice Requirements:
- Must include VAT number if registered
- Reverse charge for B2B cross-border
- Sequential invoice numbering required
Standard VAT Rates:
Country
Rate
Germany
19%
France
20%
UK (post-Brexit)
20%
Netherlands
21%
Ireland
23%
Reverse Charge: For B2B services in EU, buyer may handle VAT. Include "Reverse Charge - VAT to be paid by recipient."
China
Invoice Requirements:
- Regular invoice vs. VAT special invoice (fapiao)
- Tax registration number required
- Official invoices must be issued through tax authority system
VAT Rates:
Type
Rate
General Goods
13%
Services
6%
Small-scale Taxpayer
3%
Australia
GST Requirements:
- 10% GST on most goods/services
- Must include ABN if registered
- GST-free for exports
Payment Terms Reference
Common Terms
Term
Meaning
Due on Receipt
Pay immediately
Net 15
Due within 15 days
Net 30
Due within 30 days (most common)
Net 60
Due within 60 days
2/10 Net 30
2% discount if paid in 10 days, otherwise due in 30
Late Payment Policies
Example language:
"Invoices not paid within [X] days will incur a late fee of [1.5%] per month on the outstanding balance."
Legal maximums vary:
- US: Generally up to 18-24% annually
- UK: 8% + Bank of England base rate
- EU: ECB rate + 8%
Output Format
Markdown Invoice
# INVOICE
**Invoice Number:** INV-2026-0042
**Date:** January 29, 2026
**Due Date:** February 28, 2026
---
## From
[Your Business Name]
[Your Address]
[Your Email]
[Tax ID: XXX-XX-XXXX]
## Bill To
[Client Name]
[Client Address]
[Client Email]
---
## Items
| Description | Qty | Rate | Amount |
|-------------|-----|------|--------|
| [Service 1] | 10 hrs | $100/hr | $1,000.00 |
| [Service 2] | 1 | $500 | $500.00 |
---
| | |
|---|---|
| **Subtotal** | $1,500.00 |
| **Tax (10%)** | $150.00 |
| **Total Due** | **$1,650.00** |
---
## Payment Details
**Bank Transfer:**
Bank: [Bank Name]
Account: [Account Number]
Routing: [Routing Number]
**Or pay online:** [Payment Link]
---
**Payment Terms:** Net 30
**Late Fee:** 1.5% per month on overdue balance
Thank you for your business!Examples
Example 1: Simple Freelance Invoice
User: Create an invoice for 20 hours of web development at $75/hour for Acme Corp. I'm John Smith, based in Austin, TX.
Me:
INVOICE
Invoice Number: INV-2026-0001
Date: January 29, 2026
Due Date: February 28, 2026
From
John Smith
Austin, TX 78701
Bill To
Acme Corp
[Client Address]
Items
Description
Qty
Rate
Amount
Web Development Services
20 hrs
$75.00/hr
$1,500.00
Total Due
$1,500.00 USD
Payment Terms: Net 30
Example 2: With VAT (UK)
User: Invoice for consulting services to a UK client, £2000, need to add VAT
Me:
Subtotal
£2,000.00
VAT (20%)
£400.00
Total Due
£2,400.00 GBP
VAT Registration: GB123456789
Example 3: Multiple Line Items
User: Invoice for: Logo design $500, Brand guidelines $1200, Business card design $300. Client is StartupXYZ.
Me:
Description
Qty
Rate
Amount
Logo Design
1
$500.00
$500.00
Brand Guidelines Document
1
$1,200.00
$1,200.00
Business Card Design
1
$300.00
$300.00
Total Due
$2,000.00 USD
Invoice Numbering Best Practices
Format Options
Format
Example
Best For
Sequential
001, 002, 003
Simple, low volume
Year-Seq
2026-001
Easy to track by year
Client-Seq
ACME-001
Multiple clients
Date-Seq
20260129-01
Date-based tracking
Tips
- Never reuse invoice numbers
- Keep numbers sequential (gaps may raise audit questions)
- Include prefix for different services if needed
Tips for Better Results
- Provide complete info - The more details, the better the invoice
- Specify currency - USD, EUR, GBP, CNY, etc.
- Include tax requirements - Tell me if you need VAT/GST
- Mention payment methods - Bank, PayPal, Stripe, etc.
- Request specific format - Markdown, HTML, or plain text
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Missing due date - Always specify when payment is expected
- Vague descriptions - "Consulting" is worse than "Marketing strategy consulting - Q1 campaign planning"
- Wrong calculations - I'll double-check, but verify final numbers
- Missing tax info - Required for B2B in many countries
- No payment instructions - Make it easy to pay you!
Limitations
- I generate text invoices, not PDFs directly
- Tax calculations are estimates - verify with accountant
- Can't integrate with accounting software
- Don't know your specific local requirements
Languages
Works with multiple languages including English and Chinese.
Just specify your preferred language when requesting an invoice.
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