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Professional Invoice Generator
for UK Contractors.
Create professional contractor invoices in seconds. Bill for labour, materials, and project management. VAT-ready, GBP default.
Invoice fields
How to invoice as a contractor in the UK
Contractor invoices often mix labour, materials, plant hire, and project-management fees on one document. With InvoiNova you can add a separate line for each — set quantity and unit price, apply VAT per line, and download a clean PDF in seconds. CIS contractors can add a deduction line for the amount withheld. No account, no watermark, no monthly fee.
What to include in a contractor invoice
A clear contractor invoice prevents disputes over scope and payment. Make sure yours includes:
- Invoice number, issue date, and the project or job reference
- Your business name, address, and VAT number if registered
- Itemised labour with hours or day rates
- Materials and plant hire as separate lines
- VAT at the correct rate, plus any CIS deduction or retention
- Payment terms, due date, and bank details
Resources
Expert Guides for Invoicing & Tax
Checklist · Invoice
What to Include in an Invoice: 12-Point Checklist (2026)
Every field your invoice must include to stay compliant and avoid payment delays. Free checklist for freelancers and small businesses — takes 2 minutes.
Guide · Contractor
UK Contractor & CIS Invoice Guide: What Every Subcontractor Needs to Know
Complete guide to UK contractor invoicing and the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS). Covers deduction rates, required invoice fields, VAT interaction, and how to create a compliant CIS invoice for free.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
You must register for VAT with HMRC once your VAT-taxable turnover exceeds £90,000 in any rolling 12-month period (the threshold from April 2024), or if you expect to exceed it within the next 30 days. Below £90,000, registration is voluntary — some freelancers register early to reclaim VAT on business expenses or to appear more established to clients. Once registered, you must charge VAT (standard rate 20%) on your invoices, show your VAT registration number, and submit VAT returns to HMRC, usually quarterly under Making Tax Digital. If you are not registered, you must not charge VAT or show a VAT number on your invoices. InvoiNova lets you toggle VAT on or off and add your VAT number as a custom field, so the same tool works whether or not you have crossed the threshold.
The UK tax year runs from 6 April to 5 April the following year. If you are a sole trader or freelancer, you report your income through Self Assessment: the online filing deadline is 31 January after the end of the tax year, when any tax and Class 4 National Insurance owed is also due. HMRC requires you to keep records of all sales and income — including copies of every invoice you issue — along with business expenses and receipts. You must keep these records for at least 5 years after the 31 January submission deadline of the relevant tax year, in case HMRC checks your return. Keeping a clear, numbered sequence of invoices makes Self Assessment far easier. InvoiNova stores your last 20 invoices in your browser and lets you download each as a PDF, so you can archive them for your records.
Yes. InvoiNova supports per-item VAT rates on every invoice. Each line item has its own VAT percentage field — the subtotal, VAT amount, and grand total update instantly as you type. The standard UK VAT rate is 20%, which you can apply to individual lines or across all items. If you are below the £90,000 VAT registration threshold, use the Invoice Without Tax mode — no VAT fields appear on the PDF. VAT-registered businesses should include their VAT registration number in the custom fields section. The tool also supports zero-rated (0%) and reduced-rate (5%) VAT for eligible goods and services, making it suitable for most UK billing scenarios.
InvoiNova supports 28 popular currencies including GBP, EUR, USD, CHF, CAD, AUD, JPY, and more. The list covers the major currencies used by UK freelancers and small businesses dealing with international clients. If your currency is not on the list, type a custom currency code directly — InvoiNova will display it on the invoice without restriction. GBP is the default currency on the UK-specific page and populates automatically when you open the United Kingdom invoice template. Currency symbol placement and decimal formatting adapt to each selection. You can also switch currencies mid-invoice without losing your line items or client details.
InvoiNova generates professional PDF invoices that include all standard fields required for UK compliance: your business name and address, client name and address, a unique invoice number, invoice date, description of goods or services, quantity, unit price, and total amount. VAT-registered businesses must also include their VAT registration number, the VAT amount, and VAT rate for each line — all of which InvoiNova supports. Non-VAT-registered sole traders need only the basic fields above. You are responsible for ensuring your invoice meets all HMRC requirements for your specific business type. For detailed guidance, refer to HMRC's invoicing rules at gov.uk.
A compliant UK invoice must show: a unique, sequential invoice number; your business name and address (and trading name if different); the customer's name and address; the invoice date and, if different, the date of supply (tax point); a clear description of the goods or services with quantity and unit price; and the total amount due. If you are VAT-registered, you must also show your VAT registration number, the VAT rate applied to each line, the total VAT charged, and the amount excluding VAT — this is a full VAT invoice. Non-VAT-registered sole traders include only the basic fields and must not show a VAT number or VAT charge. It is good practice to add your payment terms and bank or payment details so clients know how and when to pay. InvoiNova includes every required field by default and uses custom fields for your VAT number, sort code, and account number, so each PDF meets HMRC's requirements.