Remittance Advice
Remittance advice is a short note from a client that says which invoice a payment covers. It matters most when several invoices are open. A bank transfer alone may leave it unclear which one was paid.
What it means
A bank statement shows that an amount landed in your account. It does not always show the invoice. This happens often when a client pays two or three at once, or leaves the reference blank. Remittance advice fills the gap. It is a short email or note, such as “paid $450 today against invoice #1042”.
If you are the one being paid, ask for it. Add a line to your payment instructions, such as “please quote the invoice number when you pay”. Then you do not have to guess or chase a client to match an unexplained deposit.
Two invoices, #1041 and #1042, are both open with the same client. A $600 bank transfer arrives with no reference. Then a note arrives, saying that the $600 was for #1042 and the other is coming Friday. That note tells you which invoice to mark paid.
Asking a client to pay by bank transfer without asking for the invoice number. You then have to guess which payment matches which bill.
See also
Where this shows up
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- guide How to get paid faster, without the awkward follow-up The reminder cadence here stops most late invoices from becoming a collections problem.
- tool Late payment fee & interest calculator Enter an overdue balance, a rate, and the days late. You get the interest, the total now due, and a reminder line to copy and paste.
- tool Payment method check Enter your invoice amount, your card fee, your hourly rate, and how long a transfer takes. The tool compares card, bank transfer, and cash for this invoice. It shows the fee, your time, and when the money lands.