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How do I write a receipt for the second installment on an invoice?

Issue a separate receipt for this payment only, put the invoice number in the 'Invoice reference' field, and write 'Second of three installments' in what the payment is for. The receipt does not know the invoice total or what was paid before, so the balance is something you work out and show on the invoice itself.

Published · 3 min read

The example: a 9,000 riyal invoice in three parts

You built an online store for a client, invoice INV-2026-0031 for 9,000 riyals, payable in three equal parts. The first arrived last month and got its own receipt. Today the second one landed by bank transfer.

  1. In the Receipt generator, give this receipt a new number such as RCT-2026-0047, not the first payment's number.
  2. Enter 3000; the summary shows 3,000.00 SAR. That is what arrived today, not the invoice total.
  3. Choose 'Bank transfer' and add the transfer reference in the details.
  4. In 'Invoice reference' type INV-2026-0031 exactly as it appears on the invoice.
  5. In what the payment is for, write: 'Second of three installments for online store design'.
  6. Optionally note the balance in the notes: 'Remaining on the invoice: 3,000.00 SAR'.

Why the receipt does not work out the balance

It is a single-amount document: it confirms you received this sum, on this date, for this reason. The invoice reference is text that prints as typed; the tool does not check that the invoice exists and does not know its total. The balance line in the notes is yours to write, so double-check it before you create the file.

The place where the balance is actually calculated is the invoice. The Basic invoice generator has an 'Amount paid' field that is subtracted from the total to give 'Balance due'. With a 9,000 total and 6,000 paid, it shows 3,000.00 due, as computed by the tool. Send that updated invoice alongside the receipt if the client wants to see where things stand.

Common installment mistakes

  • Typing the invoice total on the receipt instead of the installment, which reads as if the client paid in full.
  • Reusing the first receipt's number, leaving you with two different documents under one number.
  • Writing the invoice number differently each time, '31' on one and 'INV-2026-0031' on the next, which makes searching painful.
  • Issuing the third receipt early 'to save time' before the money arrives.

On the final payment

When the third part arrives, write 'Final of three installments' as the purpose and 'Invoice paid in full' in the notes. Three receipts with consecutive numbers and one shared reference give both of you a clean trail anyone can follow.

Common questions

Can I put all the installments on one receipt?

A receipt holds one amount and one date, so one receipt per payment, dated the day it arrived, is clearer.

The client paid less than the agreed installment. What do I write?

Enter what actually arrived, and explain in the notes that it is part of the second installment and how much of it is still outstanding.