Find and understand Google Ads invoices

Google Ads invoices (formerly Google AdWords) often make life difficult for the accounting department and regularly cause confusion and challenges. You want to finally finalise the bookings for the past month, but then the first hurdle appears, especially for those who are confronted with the topic for the first time: Where is that darn Google Ads invoice to be found?

Once you've finally found it, it suddenly shows a different amount than the credit card bill, for example. It's maddening.

As a Google Ads agency, we are responsible for our customers' Google accounts, so our experts know exactly what's going on. I therefore sat down with Nicole, Head of Google Ads, and asked her the following questions.

Where can I find the Google Ads invoice?

You can find the Google Ads invoices in your Google Ads account. To retrieve them, you must first log into your account and then click on the tool icon (marked with a spanner) for "Tools & Settings" in the top right-hand corner. Then select "Billing" and "Billing overview".

In new accounts, there is an updated display in which you can already find the "Billing" tab in the menu bar.

The Google Ads invoice is created every completed month and is available for the last month, then from the first day of the following month. You can find an overview of all invoices from previous months under Billing -> Documents and then click on the respective payment profile. Once you have selected the Google Ads invoices you require, you can download them under "Download selection".

What if I still can't find my Google Ads invoice?

Sometimes it can happen that you still can't find your invoice. In this case, you should first check the following points.

• It may still be too early for your invoices, as they are only made available from the fifth working day.
• If no payment has been made in a month, i.e. no payment has been booked, no invoice or an empty invoice will be generated.
• It is also possible that the period has been forgotten or that no period has been selected. (Therefore, always adjust the period first)

Billing methods: How can I set up the payment settings and payment methods in Google Ads?

In Google Ads (AdWords), there are two important points to consider when setting up payment information for transactions:

• Payment setting
• Payment method

The payment setting is used to specify how payments are to be made. The payment method in turn determines how the Google Ads invoices are to be paid, e.g. by credit card. These options depend on your country (that of your company) and the currency you specify.

Available Google Ads payment settings

The following three options are available:

1. Automatic payment
2. Manual payments
3. Monthly billing (credit limit)

Payment methods for Google Ads

There are important points when setting up your payment information: When you pay and what you pay with. We will go into the second point here.

the following payment methods are possible:

• Bank account (direct debit)
• Credit and debit cards
• Replacement credit cards

To customise the payment method, log back into your Google Ads account and click on the gear icon under "Tools and settings". Here you then go to "Billing" and "Payment method". Once you have entered the required data, click on "Send".

Voucher codes: There are also voucher codes for Google Ads advertising that you can use to receive credit for your Google Ads account. To redeem these, you must first select the payment method and go back to "Billing". Then select the voucher codes option, enter your code and click on "Save".

What do I need to bear in mind with regard to sales tax / VAT on Google Ads invoices?

Google does not charge VAT - VAT is therefore not taken into account in Google Ads invoices and is not shown. Of course, this is still due and Google refers to the reverse charge procedure. In concrete terms, this means that Google shifts the tax burden to the domestic entrepreneur. As a company or entrepreneur, you are therefore responsible for paying the amount to the tax office. In addition to the invoice amount that must be paid to Google, you must therefore also recognise the VAT. In this case, it makes sense to seek advice from your tax advisor on the subject of VAT.

Invoice amount vs. direct debit amount: How do I book Google Ads invoices correctly?

Google Ads invoices have some special features, as two different amounts are listed on the invoice. In concrete terms, this means that the invoice usually shows a different amount than the credit card statement or the bank account. The reason for this is the Google Credit system. With this system, Google first makes an advance payment and at the end of the month the service provided is invoiced and booked. The amount charged for the service in the previous month is therefore listed at the top of the Google Ads invoice.

This often leads to the question of why there is a difference between the invoiced amount and the amount debited. The billing period and the debit period are therefore different, because the debit for the clicks can take place in the middle of the month and therefore not all clicks from the respective month are paid (these are carried over to the following month as a balance). In the transaction overview at Google, this can be easily understood with the individual transactions.

Here is an example:

The debits from your account always take place around the 23rd. The amount outstanding up to this date is settled (includes the costs for the clicks from the 1st to the 22nd of the respective month).

However, the invoices always include the costs for the entire month (1st of the month to the end of the month and not just the 1st to 22nd). This results in the balance at the beginning and end of the month.

This means that

At the end of each month, a final balance remains and each new month starts at Google with an initial balance, which is carried over from the previous month.

If the advertising expenditure exceeds the balance, the Google account is automatically topped up - the amount must be debited from your bank account or the specified credit card in order to top up the Google account with the agreed amount.

This also answers the frequent question as to why the invoice and the debit on the credit card do not match. Assigning the payments to the Google Ads invoices can be annoying.

How can I change my Google Ads invoice?

Have you accidentally entered the wrong payment information? No problem, because you can edit it at any time under "Payment methods". However, once an invoice has been issued before your new change, you can no longer make any changes. However, the new payment information will be taken into account for your next invoices. You should note two points:

• You must edit the payment information at least 14 days before the end of the month.
• You cannot receive a separate invoice for each campaign

How can I download and print my Google Ads invoice?

Downloading your Google Ads invoice is very easy. First, log in to your Google Ads account and then click on the "Tools & Settings" tool icon in the top right-hand corner. Then click on Billing and billing documents and under "Transactions" you will see your currently available invoices. You can download the Ads invoices for the tax office as a PDF under "Invoice with EU VAT".

Conclusion:

I have now shown you how you can easily find the Google Ads invoice in your Google account in future. As of today, you should therefore be able to complete last month's booking without any problems.

We discussed the following topics:

• Where can I find my Google Ads invoice?
• Billing methods: How can I set up the payment setting and payment methods in Google Ads?
• What do I need to bear in mind with regard to sales tax / VAT on Google Ads invoices?
• Invoice amount vs. direct debit amount: How do I book Google Ads invoices correctly?
• How can I still change my Google Ads invoice?
• How can I print out my Google Ads invoice?

If you have any further questions or need support with managing and creating your Google Ads campaigns, please contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call us on +43 1 353 2 353. We will be happy to help you.