VAT invoices that stand up to scrutiny
A VAT invoice has to carry particular information to be valid, and a real job rarely sits at one rate. ClickDesign Invoicing puts the required details on every document automatically and lets you set the rate line by line, so a mixed job adds up properly instead of being rounded into one figure.
On every VAT invoice
A unique, sequential number
Numbering runs in an unbroken sequence with your own prefix. You can't accidentally issue the same number twice, and deleting a draft doesn't reuse one.
Your VAT registration number
Entered once in Settings and printed on every invoice and quote, alongside your company registration number and registered address.
Rate and amount per line
20%, 5% or 0% on each line independently, with the VAT for each shown and totalled — the correct treatment when a job mixes standard-rated labour with zero-rated or reduced-rate items.
Supply and due dates
Issue date and payment due date on every invoice, with the due date derived from your standard payment terms unless you override it.
Discounts handled correctly
A discount reduces the net before VAT is calculated, proportionally across the lines, so the VAT shown matches what you're actually charging.
Reverse charge wording
For construction services between VAT-registered businesses, one tick zeroes the VAT and prints the statement telling the customer they must account for it.
Not VAT registered yet?
Leave the VAT number blank and set your lines to 0% — your invoices print cleanly with no VAT shown and no misleading references to it. When you cross the threshold and register, add your number and start applying rates. Nothing needs redoing, and previously issued invoices are untouched.
Questions
What has to appear on a UK VAT invoice?
Broadly: a unique sequential number, your business name and address, your VAT registration number, the date of issue and the tax point, the customer's name and address, a description of what was supplied, the rate and amount of VAT, and the total excluding VAT. ClickDesign Invoicing fills all of these in from your settings and the job. Check HMRC's current guidance if you are unsure about your situation.
Can I charge different VAT rates on one invoice?
Yes. Each line carries its own rate, so a job can mix 20% labour with 0% or 5% items and the totals break down correctly by rate.
Does it do Making Tax Digital submissions?
No. ClickDesign Invoicing creates and manages invoices; it is not HMRC-recognised software and does not submit VAT returns or MTD updates. Use it alongside whatever you or your accountant already use for filing — everything exports to CSV and JSON.
What is the domestic reverse charge?
For most construction services supplied between VAT-registered businesses, the customer accounts for the VAT rather than the supplier charging it. Tick reverse charge on the invoice and the VAT is zeroed with the required wording printed on the PDF.
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