Proper Invoice Requirements in Alberta
Under the Prompt Payment and Construction Lien Act, RSA 2000, c. P-26.4
A proper invoice is the single document that starts the Alberta payment clock under the Prompt Payment and Construction Lien Act (RSA 2000, c. P-26.4). Get it right and every downstream deadline is anchored and defensible; get it wrong and a payer can argue the clock never started.
Alberta has no deemed-proper-invoice rule, so an invoice must contain every required element from the outset. There is no silence-equals-acceptance safety net.
Alberta proper invoice deadlines
The statutory clocks for this topic in Alberta, with section citations.
| Clock | Value | Statute |
|---|---|---|
Deemed-proper review window This province has no deemed-proper-invoice provision. | No statutory rule | Not applicable |
What a proper invoice must contain
Alberta proper invoices identify the contractor and the payer, describe the work or materials supplied, state the amount payable and the period covered, give the contract or project reference, and set out the payment terms. Any additional content the contract requires must also be present.
Tiercord validates each invoice against these requirements in real time and generates a PDF whose footer carries a SHA-256 verification hash and QR code, so the recipient can confirm it has not been altered.
No second chance: get it right the first time
Because Alberta has no deeming rule, there is no review window that quietly converts a flawed invoice into a proper one. An invoice that is missing a required element simply does not start the 28-day clock, so completeness on day one is everything.
Why the receipt date anchors every AB clock
Every Alberta prompt-payment deadline is measured from the date the proper invoice is received, not the date it is dated or sent. Recording and preserving that receipt date determines when the owner must pay and when every downstream clock expires.
Proper invoice in Alberta: FAQ
Does Alberta deem an invoice proper if the payer stays silent?
No. Alberta has no deemed-proper-invoice provision, so the invoice must be complete and correct from the outset for the clock to start.
When does the payment clock start in Alberta?
On the date a proper invoice is received (AB PPCLA s. 32.2(1)). If the invoice is missing required information it may not qualify, and the clock may not start until the defect is cured.
See the full Alberta guide
Every deadline, notice and adjudication rule in one place.