Invoices are a key part of managing online purchases—whether you're buying for personal use, for a business, or keeping your accounts in order. eBay provides several ways to view or request invoices, both before and after a purchase. Depending on whether you’re a buyer or seller, the steps may vary slightly.
How to Get an Invoice from eBay as a Buyer
If you’ve bought an item on eBay and need an invoice for your records, the easiest way to get one is through your Purchase History. Log in to your account, go to My eBay, then Purchase History, and find the item you need an invoice for. Click on More Actions, then select View Order Details. From there, you’ll see an option to print a Purchase Invoice, which will include the item details, price, seller name, shipping cost, and total paid.
This invoice can be saved as a PDF or printed for physical records. It’s suitable for both personal purchases and basic expense tracking, though it won’t always include VAT breakdowns unless the seller is VAT-registered.
How to Request a Revised Invoice Before Paying
If you're buying multiple items from the same seller and want combined postage, or if there's been a change in terms, you can request an updated invoice before you pay. Go to your cart or Purchase History, find the relevant items, and click Request Total from Seller. This alerts the seller to send you a revised invoice with adjusted shipping or pricing. Once they’ve updated it, you’ll get a new invoice to approve and pay.
This is especially useful when buying from sellers who offer postage discounts or who prefer to confirm international shipping manually.
How to Get an Invoice from eBay as a Seller
If you’re a seller looking to download an invoice for fees, subscriptions, or transaction summaries, head to My eBay, then Account Settings, and select Payments. Under Reports, you’ll find your monthly invoices. These cover selling fees, promoted listings costs, and any subscription charges. You can view, download, or print these directly from your account.
If a buyer asks you to send them an invoice before they pay, you can also do this from your Sold section. Find the item, click Send Invoice, and fill in the correct postage or discount if needed. This sends a formal request for payment with all transaction details.
How to Access VAT Invoices on eBay
VAT invoices are only available when the seller is VAT-registered and has uploaded proper documentation. If you need a VAT invoice, you should check the listing first. Under the item price, there’s often a note stating whether VAT is included and if the seller can provide a VAT invoice.
If it’s not automatically available, message the seller after your purchase and request one. Some sellers upload VAT invoices to the order page after dispatch, which can be downloaded the same way as a regular invoice. If you're buying for a business, always confirm VAT information in advance.
Can You Get Invoices for Older Purchases?
Yes, you can view order details and print invoices for previous purchases by going back through your Purchase History. eBay stores your transaction records for several years, so you can typically access invoices long after the sale—though some older listings may have limited detail if they were archived or the seller account is no longer active.
Are Invoices Automatically Sent by eBay?
Not always. For standard purchases, you’ll receive a confirmation email with payment details, but this isn’t a formal invoice. If you need something more official—especially for business or accounting purposes—you’ll need to go through your account and manually download the invoice or request one from the seller.
Summary
Getting an invoice from eBay is straightforward, whether you're a buyer wanting a purchase receipt or a seller needing a statement for fees and charges. Buyers can view and print invoices from their purchase history, while sellers have access to detailed monthly reports and can issue custom invoices as needed. For VAT invoices or combined shipping, communication with the seller is key. Keeping track of these documents helps you stay organised, especially when managing large purchases or business-related expenses.