1. What every cpa / accountant invoice must include

A compliant cpa / accountant invoice has eight parts: your business name and contact info, a unique invoice number, issue date, payment due date, the customer's name and address, an itemized list of work, the total amount due, and accepted payment methods. If you're collecting sales tax, that line is required too.

2. Set your line items

Most cpa / accountants structure invoices around these 4 categories:

Tax return — individual — billed by flat.
Tax return — business — billed by flat.
Bookkeeping monthly — billed by flat.
Hourly advisory — billed by hour at a ~$235 default.

3. Set payment terms

The standard for cpa / accountants is Net 30 — payment due within 30 days of the invoice date. Most cpa / accountants also require a 50% deposit upfront before starting work. Spell out late-fee terms (most states cap monthly late fees around 1.5%) and accepted payment methods on the invoice itself.

4. Licensing & legal disclosures

CPA license required for attest services and the CPA designation. EAs licensed federally to represent before IRS.

5. Send and follow up

Send the invoice the same day work is completed (or upon milestone for larger projects). Use software that tracks opens and lets the customer pay by card or bank transfer in one click — the average cpa / accountant-class invoice gets paid 2× faster when the customer can pay online without leaving their inbox.

Average invoice

$1,850

Standard terms

Net 30

Typical deposit

50%

BLS code

13-2011

State-by-state cpa / accountant invoicing guides

State rules differ on sales tax, statutory late fees, and contractor disclosure requirements. Pick your state for a guide tuned to local law.

How to Invoice as a CPA / Accountant: Step-by-Step Guide