Invoice requirements in the United States
The short version
The United States has no federal law prescribing what a business invoice must contain, and there is no federal VAT. What you put on an invoice is driven by getting paid smoothly and keeping clean records, not by a statute.
- Your business name and contact details, and the client's
- A unique invoice number and the issue date
- A clear description of the work, quantities and rates
- Payment terms: due date, accepted payment methods, any late fee
Sales tax
Sales tax exists at state and local level and mostly concerns goods; many services are not taxable, but rules differ by state. If you are required to collect it, show it as its own line with the rate. When in doubt, check your state's department of revenue.
1099 forms: what freelancers should expect
For payments made in 2026, businesses generally issue Form 1099-NEC to contractors they paid 2,000 dollars or more during the year (the threshold rose from 600 dollars). Payment platforms report on Form 1099-K when payments exceed 20,000 dollars and 200 transactions. Keep your invoices consistent with what these forms will show, and expect clients to request a W-9 before paying you.
Paper size
US clients expect Letter format rather than A4. The generator lets you switch with one click in the Style panel.
This page is general information, not tax or legal advice. Thresholds and state rules change; confirm specifics with a tax professional.