UK invoice template
The generator below, plus what UK rules actually require on the page. Fill it honestly and the paperwork side of getting paid is done.
Guide
How to use it
- Say the word "invoice" and give it a unique sequential number, gaps and repeats are what audits notice.
- Your business block: sole traders use your name (and any trading name), limited companies must use the full registered name, adding the company number and registered office is good practice.
- The customer’s name and address, a clear description of goods or services, the supply date and invoice date.
- Amounts: per-line and the total. If you are VAT registered, use the VAT invoice version of this page instead.
- Payment details and terms: account details and the due date. Print or save as PDF, and keep your copy, six years is the record-keeping expectation for companies.
Examples
Sole trader or limited: what changes
"Jane Smith, trading as Brightside Design" plus your usual address. You and the business are legally the same person, the invoice just needs to identify you findably.
The registered name exactly as at Companies House, e.g. "Wolds Cyber Ltd". If you name directors on stationery you must name all of them, easier to name none.
Construction industry invoices show the labour/materials split so the contractor can apply CIS deductions correctly, two lines, clearly labelled, saves a phone call.
Method
How it works
This page is the standard generator preloaded for non-VAT UK invoicing, the legal field list above comes from gov.uk’s invoicing guidance. The preview builds live and prints to a clean A4 PDF via your browser.
Nothing here is tax or legal advice, edge cases (international clients, reverse charge, factoring) belong with your accountant. The template covers the ordinary case properly.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to be registered to invoice?
No registration is needed to issue invoices as a sole trader, invoicing is just asking to be paid in writing. Register with HMRC for self-assessment separately, that is about tax, not invoices.
What invoice number should I start with?
Anywhere, as long as the sequence continues: INV-001 or 2026-001 both work. Starting at 047 to look established is a well-worn and harmless tradition.
Must I show payment terms?
Not legally, but unstated terms default to 30 days. Stating "Payment within 14 days" on the invoice makes your terms the terms.
Paper or PDF, which is official?
Both are equally valid. PDF by email is the norm, keep copies of everything you issue, six years for companies, five years after the filing deadline for self-assessment.
Can I invoice in euros or dollars?
Yes, agree the currency with the client. For your UK tax records you will convert to sterling, note the rate and date used.
What if the client will not pay?
Statutory interest (8% plus base) and fixed recovery costs apply to late commercial payments, and the small claims track handles disputes up to £10,000. A polite reminder citing the due date on this invoice resolves most cases first.
More tools