VAT invoice template (UK)

About this document

If you are VAT registered in the UK, your invoices have to carry more than a total. HMRC expects a sequential invoice number, your VAT registration number, the rate charged on each item and the VAT amount as its own figure — not folded into the total.

This page opens with the region set to the United Kingdom, so the currency is pounds, the tax is labelled VAT at 20%, and the business-ID field asks for a VAT number rather than a generic tax ID. Change the rate per invoice for reduced-rate or zero-rated work.

What a UK VAT invoice needs

• A unique, sequential invoice number
• Your business name, address and VAT registration number
• The customer's name and address
• The invoice date, and the supply date if it differs
• A description of the goods or services
• The rate of VAT applied to each item
• The total excluding VAT, the VAT amount, and the total including VAT

This is general information, not tax or legal advice. Requirements differ by jurisdiction and by the kind of work you do — check with your own accountant or tax authority if anything is unclear.

Questions

Do I need to show VAT separately?

Yes. A VAT invoice has to show the amount excluding VAT, the VAT itself, and the total — your customer needs the VAT figure to reclaim it. Set the tax to "Added on top" and all three appear.

What if I am not VAT registered?

Then do not charge or mention VAT at all, and leave the VAT number blank. Remove the tax section entirely and the invoice is correct as it stands.

Can I invoice in a currency other than pounds?

Yes, and the currency picker has over 150. If you are UK VAT registered, the VAT amount generally still needs to be shown in sterling — worth confirming with your accountant for cross-border work.

What about reverse charge?

Rename the tax label to "Reverse charge" and set the rate to zero, then explain the treatment in the notes. The label is editable precisely so cases like this can be stated plainly.