Your brand collaboration is done. The Reel is live. The brand approves your content. And then they message you: “Please send your invoice.”
If you have never created an invoice before, don't worry. It is much simpler than it sounds.
This guide explains how influencers and content creators in India can create an invoice, what details to include, how GST works, what TDS means, and what a proper influencer invoice looks like.
You don't need to make one manually in Word or Excel. Use Creator Buddy's free invoice generator to create your invoice online.
Create My Invoice Free →An influencer invoice is simply a formal document asking a brand or agency to pay you for the work you completed.
For example, suppose you agreed to create 1 Instagram Reel for ₹20,000.
After completing the collaboration, you send an invoice telling the company what you delivered, how much they owe you and where they should send the payment.
Let's say Priya completed one Instagram Reel collaboration for ₹20,000 and she is not charging GST.
Her invoice could look something like this:
| Description | Amount |
|---|---|
| Content creation and promotion – 1 Instagram Reel | ₹20,000 |
| Total | ₹20,000 |
That's essentially what a basic influencer invoice looks like.
Your invoice does not need to look complicated or use difficult accounting language.
A good invoice should clearly answer four questions:
Your invoice should normally contain:
Every invoice should have its own invoice number.
For example:
INV-26-27-001
INV-26-27-002
INV-26-27-003
This makes it much easier to keep track of your invoices.
For GST-registered creators issuing tax invoices, the invoice number should also follow the applicable GST invoice-numbering requirements, including being unique for the financial year.
This is a very common situation for newer creators.
If you are not GST registered, don't simply add GST to your invoice because a brand asks you for an invoice.
If you are not GST registered, your invoice may instead simply show:
Whether you are required to obtain GST registration is a separate question. That depends on your turnover and other circumstances.
You can still create an invoice. Use Creator Buddy's free invoice generator and enter the details applicable to you.
Create Invoice Without GST →If you are GST registered, your tax invoice will contain additional GST information.
For many taxable influencer and content-creation services, the commonly applicable GST rate is 18%.
Where the transaction qualifies as an intra-state supply, the 18% GST is generally split into:
Suppose you charge ₹20,000 for an Instagram Reel.
| Particulars | Amount |
|---|---|
| Instagram Reel / Creator Services | ₹20,000 |
| CGST @ 9% | ₹1,800 |
| SGST @ 9% | ₹1,800 |
| Total Invoice | ₹23,600 |
If the transaction qualifies as an inter-state supply, IGST @ 18% generally applies instead of CGST and SGST.
| Particulars | Amount |
|---|---|
| Instagram Reel / Creator Services | ₹20,000 |
| IGST @ 18% | ₹3,600 |
| Total Invoice | ₹23,600 |
You don't need complicated accounting language.
Simply describe what you actually delivered.
A clear description makes it easier for the brand or agency's accounts team to match your invoice with the correct campaign.
Invoice the company that is actually responsible for paying you.
Brand → Influencer Marketing Agency → You
You may have created content for the brand, but if the agency is responsible for making your payment, your invoice may need to be raised to the agency.
Before creating the invoice, ask your campaign contact for:
This is where many first-time creators get confused.
Suppose you send an invoice for ₹20,000, but the amount that reaches your bank account is lower.
One possible reason is that the brand or agency has deducted applicable TDS.
TDS means Tax Deducted at Source. The payer may deduct tax under the applicable income-tax provision and deposit it against your PAN.
The correct TDS section and rate can depend on the nature of the payment and other facts. Keep a record of any TDS deducted and reconcile it with your tax records.
Yes, you can.
Your Instagram username isn't a replacement for your legal details, but it can help an agency identify you quickly.
This is especially useful when an agency is processing invoices from dozens or hundreds of creators.
Brands and agencies may ask for your PAN for tax or vendor-onboarding purposes.
However, PAN is sensitive information. Avoid publishing invoices containing your PAN publicly or sharing it unnecessarily.
Don't leave the payment timeline completely unclear.
You can write:
or:
You may also see payment terms such as Net 30, Net 45 or Net 60.
Check your agreement carefully because the payment period may start from the invoice date, invoice approval date, campaign completion date or another agreed date.
The campaign may be for one brand, while an agency is actually responsible for paying you.
Don't charge GST simply because another creator does it.
Keep your invoice numbers organised and consistent.
Mention the campaign and actual deliverables instead of simply writing “social media work”.
Double-check your account number and IFSC before sending your invoice.
Creating the invoice is only half the job.
You also need to know whether it is:
You can create an invoice manually using Word, Excel or Google Docs.
But you don't need to.
Creator Buddy helps creators create professional invoices and keep their payment records organised.
If you only need a quick invoice, you can use the free invoice generator without manually designing an invoice yourself.
Yes. If you are not GST registered and are not required to charge GST in your situation, you can create an invoice without adding GST.
For many taxable influencer and creator services, the commonly applicable GST rate is 18%. For an intra-state supply, this is generally 9% CGST + 9% SGST. For an inter-state supply, 18% IGST generally applies.
Not necessarily. An individual creator can issue invoices for professional or business activities, subject to applicable tax and registration requirements.
Invoice the legal entity responsible for paying you. Ask your campaign contact for the correct billing details before raising the invoice.
Yes. It can help the campaign team identify you quickly, but it should not replace your legal or billing information.
One possible reason is TDS deducted by the payer. Check the payment details and reconcile the deduction with your tax records.
Creating an influencer invoice becomes much easier once you understand the basic structure.
Your invoice simply needs to clearly show:
Keep your invoice clean, use proper invoice numbers, confirm the correct billing entity, understand whether GST applies to you, and keep track of your payment after sending the invoice.
Because creating an invoice is only half the job.
Getting paid is the other half.
No Word template. No Excel formatting. Enter your details and create your invoice online with Creator Buddy.
Create My Free Invoice →Disclaimer: This article is for general educational information and is not tax or legal advice. GST, TDS and income-tax treatment can vary depending on registration status, turnover, type of service, location, contract and other circumstances.