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# Billing

**Billing** in Tabs is the system that turns contract terms into invoices on a schedule. Once a contract is processed, billing terms define what gets charged, when invoices are issued, and how much each line item costs. Tabs generates draft invoices automatically and syncs sent invoices to your ERP.

## Role in Tabs

Billing sits in the middle of the Tabs lifecycle — after contracts are ingested and before payments are collected:

1. A **Contract** is processed on the customer
2. It creates **billing term groups** that tie together **billing terms**
3. **Billing terms** generate **invoices**
4. **Invoices** are settled by **payments**

Billing terms are the operational core. Each billing term defines a chargeable line item — its pricing, billing frequency, invoice timing, and payment terms. When the billing date arrives, Tabs generates an invoice with the calculated line items.

**Product Catalog** defines *what* you sell (name, ERP item, description). **Billing terms** define *how* a specific customer is billed for that product (pricing, cadence, discounts, schedule). See [Product Catalog](/product-catalog#product-fields) for catalog configuration.

For the full entity hierarchy, see [Tabs data model](/data-model).

## Explore billing

#### [Billing Terms & Schedules](/billing-terms)

Billing term groups, how products become charges, and the billing schedule view.

#### [Cadence & Duration](/cadence-duration)

How often to invoice and how long billing runs.

#### [Pricing Model](/pricing-model)

Flat, unit, and tiered pricing.

#### [Invoice Timing](/invoice-timing)

When invoices are issued relative to the service period.

#### [Discounts](/discounts)

Discount types and how they apply to billing terms.

#### [Invoices & Integrations](/billing-invoices)

Invoice generation, draft vs sent, ERP sync, tax, and usage-based billing inputs.

#### [Set up tax](/tax)

Connect a tax provider and map tax codes to items.