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Accounting and invoicing for carpentry firms

Roof truss, timber frame, carport, extension: carpentry firms tie large amounts of timber and hours to a job and bill in stages. Saldiqo issues stage invoices on timber order and fitting, runs the final invoice and assigns timber and crane invoices to the job.

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What comes up for carpentry firms

High material value

Structural timber, insulation and fittings make up a large part of the price and have to be pre-financed.

Crane and third-party services

Crane, structural design and scaffolding come from third parties and are often re-invoiced.

Fitting time

Fitting at height, weather and dates make effort hard to predict, so exact time tracking is useful.

How Saldiqo helps

  • Stage invoices on timber order and fittingQuote, stage invoices by section, final invoice.
  • Re-invoice third-party servicesRecord crane, design and scaffolding as expenses and re-invoice them.
  • Time trackingRecord fitting time per job and evaluate it.
  • Cost centre per projectEvaluate material, time and invoices per project.

Typical invoice lines

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

  • Roof truss cutting and raising, flat fee
  • Timber frame wall, square metres
  • Crane use re-invoiced as per receipt
  • Fitting, hour
  • Structural timber as per delivery note
  • Stage invoice 30 % on timber order

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 pre-finance timber purchases?

With a stage invoice on timber order, straight from the quote.

Can I re-invoice crane and design?

Yes. You record the invoice as an expense with the job’s cost centre and re-invoice it as a line.

Do carpentry firms 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 carpentry firms 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 carpentry firms keep invoices?

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

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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.