Free Illustrator Credit Note Template
Generate credit notes for illustration project refunds, licence reversals, and billing corrections. Free PDF download.
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How does an illustrator credit a client for a reduced commission?
An illustrator issues a credit note when an invoiced commission is cut back or a licence is downgraded, such as fewer spreads than billed or a narrower usage right. The note references the original invoice, names the spreads or licence credited, and reduces the amount the client owes.
Typical line items
- Original invoice number and date
- Spread reduction, 8 of 20 spreads credited
- Licence downgrade, commercial to limited-run print
- Reason for the credit
- Credited amount
- Revised balance due
- Tax adjusted in proportion
How the work is charged
Credit removed spreads at their per-spread rate from the original invoice. A licence downgrade is credited at the difference between the broader and narrower usage fees.
Payment terms and deposits
Refund the credit to the original payment method or apply it to the next invoice, referencing the original invoice number. State the remaining balance after the adjustment.
Tax and compliance
Where the original invoice carried VAT or sales tax, a credit note usually reverses that tax in proportion to the amount credited. Licensing can be taxed differently, so confirm what applies to you.
Frequently asked questions
If a publisher cancels after I have completed half the illustrations, how do I handle the credit note?
Issue a credit note only for the portion you are returning. If you agreed to keep 50% as a kill fee, the credit note covers the other 50%. List the number of completed versus total illustrations as context in the description line. This documents the settlement clearly.
Can I issue a credit note in a foreign currency if my client is overseas?
Yes. Issue it in the same currency as the original invoice. If you invoiced in USD but your base currency is EUR, the credit note should also be in USD. Note the exchange rate used if your accounting software requires it for conversion into your reporting currency.
Does issuing a credit note cancel the original invoice?
Not necessarily. A credit note reduces the balance owed or credits an overpayment, but it does not void the original invoice. If the credit exactly matches the invoice total and the work was not done, you can mark both documents as cancelled in your records. If it is a partial credit, the original invoice remains active with a reduced outstanding balance.
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Read the complete credit note guide to see when to issue one and how it adjusts an invoice already sent.
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