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Accounting and invoicing for painters and decorators

Facade, interior painting, wallpapering and varnishing: a painting firm bills by area and hours and supplies material. Saldiqo writes quotes by square metre, issues stage invoices on longer jobs and records paint and material as expenses.

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What comes up for painters and decorators

Price by area and effort

Square metres, hours, scaffolding and material: a quote is made of many small numbers that return on the invoice.

Property managers and housing companies

Large clients commission many single jobs and pay on terms, often after inspection.

Private customers who want instalments

On larger jobs private customers like part payments, which should be documented cleanly.

How Saldiqo helps

  • Quote by areaSquare metre prices and flat fees as items, quantity per job.
  • Stage and final invoicePart payments from the quote, final invoice deducts them.
  • Regulars with payment termsProperty managers as contacts with their own payment term and reminders.
  • Record materialPaint and accessories by phone photo as expenses with a cost centre per job.

Typical invoice lines

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

  • Interior painting, 85 square metres, two coats
  • Facade painting including preparation
  • Wallpapering, woodchip
  • Scaffolding re-invoiced as per receipt
  • Paint and material as per delivery note
  • Stage invoice 30 % at start of work

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

Can I bill by square metre?

Yes. You create the square metre price as an item and enter the quantity per job.

How do I bill property managers?

You create them as contacts, set a payment term and send reminders when they are late.

Do painters and decorators 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 painters and decorators 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 painters and decorators 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.