Self-employed - is it mandatory to issue invoices?

[Tato]

Sorry to 'hijack' this thread, but my phone doesn't let me start a new one:
A self-employed person did some services for us, but instead of issuing an invoice she insists on supplying us with a statement only.
After googling intensively, I cannot find anything for South Africa, whether invoices are legally mandatory or not.
Can somebody here answer this question?
(Of course, this is not about VAT etc.).
Thanks for trying, please.

[adrianh]

Sorry to 'hijack' this thread, but my phone doesn't let me start a new one:
A self-employed person did some services for us, but instead of issuing an invoice she insists on supplying us with a statement only.
After googling intensively, I cannot find anything for South Africa, whether invoices are legally mandatory or not.
Can somebody here answer this question?
(Of course, this is not about VAT etc.).
Thanks for trying, please.

I have never just received a statement from anybody in lieu of an invoice - As far as I am aware a statement has to reflect transactions and all their detail (including invoice numbers etc)

The purpose of an invoice (as far as I am aware) is to serve as proof of billing for both parties.

I will NOT pay anybody for anything unless they provide me with an invoice (My accountants insists on this)

I operate as a Sole Proprietor and all my customers insist on invoices (They have to placate their accountants)

[galileo]

I believe it is very mandatory to get invoice in any business that you or someone else is involved with. They are like the one above me said, a proof of billing for both parties.

[Annetta]

An invoice is not mandatory, unless you are a VAT vendor and issue VAT compliant Tax Invoices.

Most creditors departments reconcile to statement not to invoice. Many small businesses issue a statement only. Paying on statement is the preferred method as the creditors clerk can verify that the ref number, on work charged for, has not been duplicated.

When I was a bookkeeper for a medium sized enterprise we seldom received invoices from contractors. We only paid on statement which we verified against original quote.