An image forming apparatus is provided with a document data storage portion for storing document data, a charge calculation portion for performing a charge operation for calculating communication charges to be made for transmission of the document data, a send/receive portion for transmitting the document data to different image forming apparatuses each of which is at the other end of the communication, and a transmission control portion for controlling the charge calculation portion and the send/receive portion such that the charge operation for one of the different image forming apparatuses that is the current transmission destination is performed within the following period: after start of transmission of the document data to another of the different image forming apparatuses that is the last transmission destination, and, before or concurrently with start of transmission of the document data to the different image forming apparatus that is the current transmission destination.