Valid invoices
You’ll use a full VAT invoice for most transactions. You can use:
a modified invoice for retail supplies over £250
a simplified invoice for retails supplies under £250 - and for other supplies from 1 January 2013
Include the following on your invoice, depending on which type you use.
Invoice information | Full invoice | Simplified invoice | Modified invoice |
Unique invoice number that follows on from the last invoice | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Your business name and address | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Your VAT number | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Date | Yes | No | Yes |
The tax point (or ‘time of supply’) if this is different from the invoice date | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Customer’s name or trading name, and address | Yes | No | Yes |
Description of the goods or services | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Total amount excluding VAT | Yes | No | Yes |
Total amount of VAT | Yes | No | Yes |
Price per item, excluding VAT | Yes | No | Yes |
Quantity of each type of item | Yes | No | Yes |
Rate of any discount per item | Yes | No | Yes |
Rate of VAT charged per item - if an item is exempt or zero-ratedmake clear no VAT on these items | Yes | Yes (*) | Yes |
Total amount including VAT | No | Yes (*) | Yes |
(*) If items are charged at different VAT rates, then show this for each.
Exceptions
There are different invoice rules if you use a VAT Margin Scheme or trade internationally.
If you use the Cash Accounting Scheme you have to stamp an invoice with the amount of cash paid and the date.
Deadlines
Usually VAT invoices must be sent within 30 days of the date of supply or the date of payment (if you’re paid in advance).
Foreign currencies
You don’t have to show all amounts on your invoices in sterling. But if there’s any VAT due you must show this in sterling.
To convert to sterling you can:
use the market selling rate at the time of supply
use the European Central Bank’s rate - from 1 January 2013
use HMRC’s period rates of exchange - the rates usually stay the same for each calendar month
apply to HMRC to use a different method to account for the VAT
This Information is an extract from the Inland Revenue website and more information can be found on:
IINSIGHT uses the line approach shown above as price per item and therefore complies with the UK Inland Revenue Taxation Rules.