A delivery note is a document that confirms goods have been physically handed over to the customer. It is not legally required in the UK, but in practice it is invaluable – it serves as proof of delivery, a basis for handling complaints and a tool for stock control. On MyInvoiceOnline.co.uk you can generate a delivery note directly from an existing invoice, so you don't need to create it separately.
What should a delivery note include?
A delivery note has no legally prescribed format in the UK. However, to fulfil its purpose – to clearly document what was delivered, to whom and when – it should include the following details:
#When and why is a delivery note used?
A delivery note is not a legal requirement in the UK, but in many situations it is practically essential:
Physical handover of goods – A delivery note is proof that the goods left your premises and were received by the customer. Without one, you only have an invoice proving you billed for something – not that you actually delivered it.
Complaints and disputes – The customer claims the goods never arrived, or that they received fewer items than ordered? A signed delivery note with a full list of items is your strongest evidence.
Stock control – Delivery notes let you track what left the warehouse and when. They form the basis for inventory checks and stocktaking.
Partial deliveries – For orders fulfilled in stages, a delivery note records what was included in each shipment. The final invoice then references the individual delivery notes.
Tips for creating a delivery note:
Leave space for signatures – both the person dispatching and the person receiving the goods.
Note the condition of goods at the time of handover.
Link to the purchase order or invoice for easy cross-referencing.
Keep delivery notes on file for at least as long as the related invoices and tax records (a minimum of 6 years in the UK).
Where do you find delivery notes on MyInvoiceOnline.co.uk?
On MyInvoiceOnline.co.uk you do not create a delivery note as a separate document type. You generate it directly from an existing invoice:
Create an invoice with the delivery items as usual.
On the issued invoice, select the option to generate a delivery note.
The delivery note is automatically populated with details from the invoice – items, supplier and customer information.
Download it as a PDF, print it and have the customer sign it upon receipt.