How to write an invoice in French (or for a French client)

Does the invoice have to be in French?

France’s 1994 language law, known as the loi Toubon, makes French compulsory in “factures et quittances” (invoices and receipts). A 1996 government circular explains what that covers: documents meant to inform consumers or end users. It then states that invoices and other documents exchanged between businesses, “French and foreign”, that are not consumers or end users of the goods or services, are not covered.

So:

The tax side adds one wrinkle. The EU VAT Directive lets each country require translations of invoices for audit purposes “for certain taxable persons or certain cases”, but not a general translation requirement (article 248a). France’s tax guidance (the BOFiP) says the administration can demand a translation certified by a sworn translator, on request only, for example when the business’s own translation looks inconsistent. That request lands on your client, not you. French headings next to English ones are a small courtesy that helps them.

Quebec. Article 57 of the Charter of the French Language says invoices, receipts and similar documents are written in French. In a June 2026 notice, the Office québécois de la langue française reported a $3,000 fine against a company that had not brought its invoices into line. If you invoice a client in Quebec, send a French version.

French invoice vocabulary

Most French invoices use the same headings. Here are the terms you’ll meet on theirs and can put on yours.

Two words cause most confusion. HT means before tax and TTC means tax included; a French client comparing quotes compares the HT figures. And a SIREN identifies the company while a SIRET identifies one of its establishments: put your client’s on the invoice if they give it to you.

What a French client’s accounts team checks

France has a detailed list of mandatory invoice details for French businesses, and its accountants are used to seeing them. Your invoice is governed first by the rules where you are, but matching what they expect gets it paid faster:

• Their full legal name and address, as registered (for example « Atelier Morel SAS »), and their VAT number. Check it on the European Commission’s VIES service.
• Their purchase order number (« bon de commande ») if they issued one.
• A unique, sequential invoice number and the invoice date.
• The date of the service or delivery, if different from the invoice date.
• Amounts excluding tax, the tax line, and the total, with the currency stated.
• A due date, not just “Net 30”, and your bank details (IBAN and BIC for a transfer in euros).

Within France, payment terms between businesses default to 30 days after delivery or service, and can’t exceed 60 days from the invoice date (or 45 days end of month if agreed), according to the French government’s business portal. French businesses must also state late-payment interest and a €40 fixed recovery fee on their own invoices. As a foreign supplier, which law governs your contract depends on what you agreed: set the payment terms in your quote or contract, and put them on the invoice.

VAT: when the French client pays it (reverse charge)

This is the line French clients most often query.

Services to a French business. Article 283-2 of the French tax code says that when services covered by article 259-1° (business-to-business services) are supplied by a business not established in France, the French customer pays the VAT. That’s the reverse charge: you invoice without French VAT, and the client declares it on their own return.

• UK supplier. HMRC’s VAT Notice 741A sets the general rule for business-to-business services: the supply is made where the customer belongs. For a French business customer, that’s outside the scope of UK VAT. HMRC advises keeping evidence that the customer is in business; for EU customers, their VAT number is the best evidence.
• EU supplier. The same logic applies under articles 44 and 196 of the EU VAT Directive, and article 226 requires the words “Reverse charge” on your invoice.
• US supplier. There’s no VAT on your side. Invoicing the net amount with a short reverse-charge note is common practice.

A clear wording for all three: « Autoliquidation / Reverse charge – TVA due par le preneur, article 283-2 du CGI ». For a non-EU supplier this line isn’t a legal requirement on your side; it simply tells the French accountant which box to use.

Goods are different. Physical goods shipped to France from outside the EU go through customs, where import VAT and duty can apply. That’s outside the scope of this guide: agree the delivery terms (who pays duties) before you quote.

Selling to French consumers (online courses, digital products, goods) follows other rules again, including EU VAT registration schemes. Get advice before your first sale.

Currency and payment

You can invoice in pounds, dollars or euros. The EU VAT Directive allows invoices in any currency, as long as any VAT due in France is shown in euros; with the reverse charge, the conversion is your client’s job. Most French clients prefer euros, because a euro transfer inside the SEPA area is cheap and quick for them.

State who pays bank charges: “All bank charges payable by the customer” or “Shared charges (SHA)”. Write dates in words (“25 September 2026”): 09/10/2026 is 9 October in France and the UK, 10 September in the US.

A bilingual invoice to a French client

Here’s a London copywriter invoicing a Lyon company, with French labels after the English ones. The numbers are placeholders.

Phrases for the covering email

A short email in French with the invoice attached is appreciated. These are standard, polite phrasings.

Envoi de la facture
Bonjour [Prénom],
Veuillez trouver ci-joint la facture n° [HC-2026-031] d’un montant de [2 600,00 €], payable au plus tard le [25 octobre 2026].
Je reste à votre disposition pour toute question.
Bien cordialement,
[Nom]

Relance amiable (après l’échéance)
Bonjour [Prénom],
Sauf erreur de notre part, la facture n° [HC-2026-031] arrivée à échéance le [25 octobre 2026] reste impayée à ce jour.
Pourriez-vous nous indiquer la date de règlement prévue ?
Si le paiement a été effectué entre-temps, merci de ne pas tenir compte de ce message.
Bien cordialement,
[Nom]

In order: “Please find attached invoice no. … for …, payable by …”; and “Unless we are mistaken, invoice no. … due on … remains unpaid. Could you tell us the expected payment date? If you have already paid, please disregard this message.” For what to do if polite reminders fail, see our guide to chasing an unpaid invoice.

Preparing the invoice with Binome360

Binome360 prepares quotes and invoices from a sentence: automatic numbering, your business details and legal notes in the footer, a tax rate, and a link to share. The footer holds whatever text you save there, so that’s where your bilingual reverse-charge line goes. Nothing is saved until you confirm.

For what every invoice needs in the UK, see how to write an invoice; for ready-made layouts, our invoice template guide.

Frequently asked questions

Can I send an invoice in English to a French company?

Yes. France’s language law requires French on invoices for consumers, and the official guidance excludes invoices between businesses. Adding French labels is still helpful, because the French tax authorities can ask your client for a certified translation during an audit.

What does HT and TTC mean on a French invoice?

HT (hors taxes) is the amount before VAT, and TTC (toutes taxes comprises) is the amount including VAT. French businesses usually compare and negotiate HT prices, because they recover the VAT.

Do I charge French VAT to a French client?

Not usually, if you supply services to a French business and aren’t established in France: under article 283-2 of the French tax code, the client accounts for the VAT. Selling goods, or selling to French consumers, follows different rules; take advice before you invoice.

What is a SIRET number and do I need one?

A SIRET is the 14-digit number identifying a French business establishment (the first nine digits are the company’s SIREN). You don’t need one as a foreign supplier; putting your client’s on the invoice helps their accounts team match it.

How do you say “invoice” in French?

« Facture ». A quote is a « devis », a receipt a « reçu », a credit note an « avoir », and the amount due is the « net à payer ».

In short

You can invoice a French business in English, but a bilingual invoice with their VAT number, their purchase order number, HT amounts, a written-out due date and a reverse-charge line gets paid with fewer questions. French consumers and clients in Quebec need French. First step: add French labels and a bilingual reverse-charge line to your invoice template today.

Sources

• Loi n° 94-665 du 4 août 1994 relative à l’emploi de la langue française (loi Toubon), article 2: legifrance.gouv.fr.
• Circulaire du 19 mars 1996 on applying law 94-665 (invoices between businesses are not covered): legifrance.gouv.fr.
• BOFiP, BOI-TVA-DECLA-30-20-20-10, § 380–430 (foreign currency invoices; certified translation on request), in force since 18 October 2013: bofip.impots.gouv.fr.
• Council Directive 2006/112/EC on the common system of VAT, consolidated text, articles 44, 196, 226, 230 and 248a: eur-lex.europa.eu.
• Code général des impôts, article 283 (2: customer liable for services supplied by a business not established in France): legifrance.gouv.fr.
• HMRC, “VAT: place of supply of services (VAT Notice 741A)”, section 6.3, updated 29 September 2022: gov.uk.
• Service-Public Entreprendre, « Délais de paiement entre professionnels et pénalités de retard »: entreprendre.service-public.gouv.fr/vosdroits/F23211.
• Service-Public Entreprendre, « Mentions obligatoires sur une facture », checked 11 August 2026: entreprendre.service-public.gouv.fr/vosdroits/F31808.
• Office québécois de la langue française, notice on invoices of 12912490 Canada Corporation, 19 June 2026 (Charter article 57): oqlf.gouv.qc.ca.

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