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INVOICE
| Description | Qty | Price | Amount |
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What every invoice needs
An invoice exists to get you paid without a conversation. Anything the payer has to ask about costs you a week.
- Your name or business name, and an address
- The client’s name and billing address — the entity that pays, which is often not the person who briefed you
- A unique, sequential invoice number
- The date of issue and an explicit due date
- A description of what you supplied
- The amount due, and VAT if you are registered
- Your payment details in full
What changes by business type
- Sole traders need no company number — you do not have one.
- Limited companies must show the registered company name, number and registered office.
- VAT-registered businesses must show the VAT number and the VAT breakdown, or the customer cannot reclaim it.
- Construction subcontractors should split labour and materials, because CIS is deducted from labour only.
Getting paid faster
Two changes outperform everything else. Give a calendar due date rather than a period — “due 12 September” beats “30 days”, because it needs no arithmetic and creates a deadline. And send the invoice the day you deliver, not at month end. Most late payment is really late invoicing.
When they do not pay
Between businesses you have an automatic statutory right to charge interest at 8% above the Bank of England base rate, plus fixed compensation of £40, £70 or £100 depending on the size of the debt. It applies whether or not your contract mentions it.
Most people never invoke it. The value is in stating it on the invoice from the start — the line changes behaviour long before you would have to act on it.
From April 2027, sole traders and landlords with gross income over £30,000 must file quarterly under Making Tax Digital, dropping to £20,000 from April 2028. The threshold counts everything you invoice before expenses — not profit, and not what reaches your bank after fees or CIS deductions.
Common questions
What must a UK invoice include?
Your details, the client's billing entity, a unique invoice number, issue and due dates, a description of the work, the amount due, VAT if registered, and your payment details.
Do sole traders need a company number on invoices?
No. Sole traders do not have one — that requirement applies to limited companies.
Can I charge interest on late invoices?
Between businesses, yes — 8% above the Bank of England base rate plus £40 to £100 fixed compensation, automatically, without it being in your contract.
How do I get invoices paid faster?
Give a calendar due date rather than a number of days, and send the invoice the day you deliver rather than at month end.