Purpose of Packing Lists and Invoices
The purpose of the packing slip is to describe the contents of the package so that the shipper can state what has been sent and the recipient can verify that the same item has been received. The information on the packing slip furthers this by listing the product description and quantity along with any other information that may be useful to the receiving department of the business making the purchase – for example, weight or identifying information such as a SKU (stock keeping unit) number.
The purpose of the invoice is to tell the buyer’s accounting department how much money needs to be paid, and when. Invoice container for information related to this payment process, such as price and terms, such as whether payment is due immediately or within 30 days.
Packing List
A typical packing list will contain the following information:
order date
packing list
Purchase order number (if cross-linked)
Shipping Address
Contact information
Detailed list of physical items ordered
Detailed list of physical goods shipped
A detailed list of any items in the same order, but shipped separately
Itemized list of out-of-stock items that may need to be reordered
The number of each item listed
General size and weight information for each item
Stock keeping unit (SKU) number and/or Universal Product Code (UPC) for each item
Packing slips are usually printed out, placed in a shipping bag, and attached to the shipment by staff in the supplier’s shipping department to confirm when the order arrives at the buyer’s receiving department that everything in the order has been included. Inside. They may or may not double duty as a packing list and shipping label.
For international shipments, customs can use the packing slip and related invoices to estimate the total value of the shipment and charge accordingly.
Packing lists are generally not issued for services or service-based businesses because their “”product”” is intangible.
bill
A typical invoice includes the following information:
order date
Invoice number
Packing slip number (if cross-linked)
Purchase order number (if cross-linked)
Shipping Address
Billing Address
Contact information
Detailed list of physical items ordered
Detailed list of physical goods shipped
A detailed list of any items in the same order, but shipped separately
The number of each item listed
General size and weight information for each item
Stock keeping unit (SKU) number and/or Universal Product Code (UPC) for each item
Payment terms, including available payment methods
payment deadline
For prepaid orders, payment date, method and confirmation number (if applicable)
Region-specific information for tax purposes, such as Value Added Tax (VAT) ID numbers
Invoices are issued by the Accounts Receivable department and sent to the Accounts Payable team. Invoices are used by both parties to track payment due dates, verify payments, and provide documentation for company financial records.
The different roles of packing slips and invoices
1. Usage
If the buyer is not satisfied with the goods received, a packing slip should be included with the return request. Instead, an invoice is a long-term document that an individual or company can use to record purchases.
2. Action required
Packing slips are used to compare the quantity purchased to the quantity actually received, while invoices either require payment or show the cost of each item.
