How can I send an invoice after the payment has been made?

[Flatfish]

I sell products on my website through the PayPal cart interface. Recently a customer emailed me asking for an invoice for the product, probably for tax reporting. However, it seems that I can only send invoices that request new payment.

How can I send an invoice after payment has been made? Or is it not possible and I need to write one up manually to give to the customer? Seems like a simple feature, but I just can't find any way to do it.

[DPCreations]

Doesn't your web site have an option to create an invoice.  My online store has such an option.  The buyer pays immediately, then I can print the order, a packing list, and invoice to include with the shipment.

Your PayPal transaction only has the option to print a packing list, so that wouldn't work.

You'll likely have to create your own invoice through some other app.

I think you can  also create a new invoice with PayPal with all the pricing detials and then print it; just do not send it.  You could then cancel the invoice.

[Flatfish]

I'm not using any fancy online webstore software, just the basic paypal checkout button (provided by PayPal), so I don't have that option. I'll try creating and cancelling an invoice.

I guess this is more of a general business question rather than a PayPal one: but shouldn't the PayPal recepit sent by email be completely sufficient for any tax purposes? I don't know why they are asking for an invoice when the receipt will say the same information.

[DPCreations]

A PayPal receipt should be sufficient, except that some business accountants want a proper invoice showing the selling company, contact person, address, and telelphone number.  It's the type of paid invoice the accountant wants to see on file for the business, not just for taxes, but for general business accounting and financial statements.