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Accounting and invoicing for holiday lets

Bookings through portals and direct, deposit, final cleaning, tourist tax and linen package: whoever lets holiday flats has many single bookings with fixed extras. Saldiqo issues deposits, writes guest invoices with extras and matches portal payouts to bookings.

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What comes up for holiday lets

Many single bookings

Every booking has a period, a price and extras. Guests often ask for an invoice.

Portals and direct bookings

Portals pay out in bundles and deduct commission. Direct bookings run by bank transfer.

Cleaning and linen

Final cleaning, linen package and consumables are running costs per stay.

How Saldiqo helps

  • Deposit and final invoiceFrom the quote you create the deposit, and the final invoice deducts it.
  • Extras as linesFinal cleaning, tourist tax and linen separately.
  • Match payoutsUpload the bank statement, separate receipts by portal.
  • Cost centre per flatIncome and expenses per property.

Typical invoice lines

Examples that often appear on invoices in this industry. You set the prices yourself.

  • Holiday flat, 7 nights
  • Final cleaning, flat fee
  • Tourist tax, passed through
  • Linen package per person
  • Deposit 30 % on booking
  • Credit note: cancellation of 2 nights

Tax and invoicing in the UK

What applies to invoices in the UK, in short. As of October 2026.

VAT
Standard rate 20 %, reduced rate 5 % and zero rate 0 %. Saldiqo calculates each invoice line with the rate you pick.
VAT registration
You must register once your taxable turnover passes £90,000 over any 12 months, or you expect to pass it within the next 30 days. You can deregister below £88,000. Until you are registered, your invoices show no VAT, and Saldiqo adds up your 12-month turnover for you.
What goes on an invoice
If you are VAT registered: your VAT number, the tax point, unit prices and the VAT total in pounds. A limited company shows its registered name on every invoice, and its company number, registered office and part of the UK on letters, order forms and the website.
E-invoicing
There is no mandate today. From April 2029 e-invoicing is planned for all B2B and B2G sales that carry VAT, through Peppol. The exact date and standard are not yet in law, and the government’s roadmap follows with the Budget on 28 October 2026.
VAT returns
VAT returns go to HMRC through Making Tax Digital, usually quarterly, due one month and seven days after the period. Saldiqo shows sales and VAT per rate and exports CSV. It does not submit to HMRC, and for Making Tax Digital you need software recognised by HMRC.
Record keeping
Keep VAT records for 6 years.
Late payment
Statutory interest on late business payments is the Bank Rate (3.75 % in the second half of 2026) plus 8 points, so 11.75 %. On top comes fixed compensation of £40, £70 or £100, depending on the amount owed (under £1,000, from £1,000, from £10,000). Consumers have no statutory interest.
Getting paid
Your sort code and account number are on every invoice. Customers pay by Faster Payments or Bacs, and banks check the account name with Confirmation of Payee. There is no QR standard in the UK.

Frequently asked questions

How do I bill guests with a deposit?

With a deposit on booking and a final invoice that deducts it.

How do I treat portal commission?

As an expense. You match the payout to the booking through the bank statement.

Do holiday lets in the UK have to charge VAT?

Only once they are VAT registered. Registration is required when taxable turnover passes £90,000 over any 12 months, or is expected to within the next 30 days. Below that you may register voluntarily. If you are not registered, you must not show VAT on your invoices.

Do holiday lets in the UK need e-invoicing?

Not today. A mandate for B2B and B2G sales with VAT is planned from April 2029, and the details were still open as of October 2026. You can keep sending PDF invoices for now.

How long should holiday lets keep invoices?

Keep VAT records for 6 years. You can store receipts digitally in Saldiqo. The legal duty to keep records stays with you.

Try Saldiqo for free

Write invoices, match payments, collect receipts and send reminders: free and without a trial period.

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As of October 2026. General information, not legal or tax advice, without guarantee. For your case ask your tax adviser.