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VAT Invoices What They Must Show

A VAT registered business needs to issue a VAT invoice when supplying goods or services to other VAT registered businesses.

ISSUING VAT INVOICES: The bills contain information required under the rules of Value Added Tax.

VAT invoices can only get issued by companies already registered for Value Added Tax. The business will need to:

  1. Issue paper or electronic sales invoices and keep records of valid invoices.
  2. Keep a copy of all sales invoices even if they get issued in error or they get cancelled.
  3. Keep copies of all purchase invoices on goods or services bought by the business.

In most cases, commercial invoices will already contain the correct information. They get used to calculate tariffs and international commercial terms. Thus, commercial invoices are often used for customs purposes.

Note: The business can only reclaim VAT on a valid invoice. Pro-forma invoices, delivery notes, statements, or invalid invoices are not valid.

What Should a Valid VAT Invoice Show

As a rule, most transactions will use a full valid VAT invoice. In some cases, the business can issue a modified VAT invoice for retail supplies over £250.

For retail supplies under £250 the business can use a simplified VAT invoice. Since the 1st of January 2013 a simplified invoice also applies to some other supplies.

HMRC VAT Invoice Requirements

Information to be Included in a VAT Invoice Full VAT Invoice Simplified VAT Invoice Modified VAT Invoice
A unique invoice number following on from the previous invoice Required Required Required
The name and address of the business Required Required Required
The business VAT number Required Required Required
The date of sale Required Not Required Required
Tax point or 'time of supply' if different from the invoice date Required Required Required
Trading name and address of the customer Required Not Required Required
A description of the goods or service Required Required Required
The total amount excluding Value Added Tax Required Not Required Required
The total amount of Value Added Tax Required Not Required Required
The price of each item excluding Value Added Tax Required Not Required Required
The quantity of each item excluding Value Added Tax Required Not Required Required
The rate of any discount applied to the sale Required Not Required Required
VAT rate per item (clarify 'no VAT' for exempt or zero-rated items) Required Required* Required
The total amount including Value Added Tax Not Required Required* Required

Note: *Means show the information for each item if they get charged at different VAT rates.

VAT Invoice for Accounting Scheme

If your company is using the Cash Accounting System you must stamp an invoice with the date and amount paid. If you use the VAT Margin Scheme there are different rules for invoicing and record keeping.

VAT Record Keeping: Issuing VAT Invoices in the United KingdomDeadlines for VAT Invoices

As a rule, you must issue an invoice within 30 days of the date of supply 'tax point' of goods or services. The invoice deadline would be the date of the payment if you paid in advance.

VAT Invoicing for International Trade

If the company is trading internationally the invoices may not be in sterling (GBP). If VAT invoices get issued in a foreign currency or a foreign language they must show:

  1. The tax amount payable in sterling on the invoice if the goods or services get supplied from the United Kingdom.
  2. An English translation of all invoices if a visiting VAT officer requests them. The company would have 30 days to supply them for inspection.

If your business needs to convert to sterling it can use:

Note: Different rules apply if your business uses the Tour Operators Margin Scheme.

Exceptions for Writing VAT Invoices

There is no need for your business to write an invoice for Value Added Tax if:

VAT Invoices: What Should be Included in a VAT Invoice in the United Kingdom?