Practical invoice guide

Invoice statuses explained: from draft to paid

A status is useful only when everyone understands what changed and whether the value is automatic or manually recorded.

6 min read · Reviewed August 13, 2026 · English (US)

Draft and sent

A draft is still being prepared and should not be treated as the final client document. Sent indicates that a share or delivery action was confirmed in the app's workflow; it does not necessarily prove client receipt or opening.

Unpaid, partial, and overdue

Unpaid means the recorded balance remains the full amount. Partially paid means one or more manual payment records reduce the balance without closing it.

Overdue normally means the due date has passed while a balance remains. Device reminders can help the owner notice this state, but reminders do not automatically contact the client or collect money.

Paid

Paid means the recorded balance has been cleared or the owner has marked the invoice paid. If the invoice app is not connected to a payment processor, this is a manual business record and should be reconciled with the actual bank or payment provider.

Corrections, voids, and deletion

A status change does not erase record-keeping obligations. The correct way to cancel, replace, credit, or delete an invoice depends on local rules and the business's accounting process.

  • Draft: not final
  • Sent: handed to a share or send workflow
  • Unpaid: full balance remains
  • Partial: some payment recorded
  • Overdue: due date passed with balance
  • Paid: balance recorded as cleared

FAQ

Quick answers

Does sent mean the client opened the invoice?

No. A send or share handoff is not automatically a delivery confirmation or read receipt.

Can payment status update automatically?

Only when a product has a supported payment-provider integration. In Invoices, payments are recorded manually.

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