The InvoiceAdept blog.

Practical guides on Making Tax Digital, invoicing, and running a successful trades business, written in plain English, not accountant-speak.

invoicingVATUK tax

Proforma invoice vs tax invoice: what UK tradespeople need to know

Understand the difference between proforma invoices and tax invoices in the UK. Learn when to use each, their legal status, and how they affect your VAT obligations as a self-employed tradesperson.

11 March 20268 min read
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invoicingcompliancebusiness records

How Long to Keep Invoices in the UK: HMRC Rules Explained

Discover HMRC's rules on invoice retention for UK businesses, including specific durations and compliance tips.

11 March 20267 min read
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getting paidcash flowinvoicing

Get paid faster as a UK tradesperson (2026): same-day invoices, deposits and clear terms

Practical UK trades guide to get paid faster: same-day invoices, deposits, stages, card vs BACS, 14-day terms and B2B late-pay rights.

11 March 202612 min read
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unpaid invoicessmall claimsdebt recovery

How to deal with clients who will not pay in the UK

Step-by-step guide to recovering unpaid invoices in the UK, from polite reminders through to small claims court, with costs and timelines.

11 March 20268 min read
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VATTax & ComplianceUK Trades

When to register for VAT UK (2026): £90,000 threshold for trades

When to register for VAT UK (2026): £90,000 threshold for trades, historic vs future tests, voluntary registration, deregistration and MTD.

11 March 20266 min read
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mileagetaxself-employed

How to claim mileage as a tradesperson in the UK

HMRC lets you claim 45p per mile for the first 10,000 miles and 25p after that. Here is how to track and claim mileage correctly as a self-employed tradesperson.

11 March 20265 min read
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national insurancetaxself-employed

National Insurance for self-employed tradespeople in 2026

Class 2 NI was scrapped in April 2024. Here is what self-employed tradespeople pay in 2025/26, how to calculate it, and what counts towards your state pension.

11 March 20265 min read
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invoicingsole traderUK business

How to write an invoice as a sole trader UK (2026)

2026 how-to for UK sole traders writing invoices: GOV.UK legal fields, sequential numbering, VAT at £90,000, CIS when you subcontract in construction, clear payment terms, a worked example and common mistakes. No fake late-pay stats. InvoiceAdept stores records — it does not file MTD, VAT or CIS300 to HMRC.

9 March 202614 min read
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invoicingUK lawtradespeople

Invoice Payment Terms: Understanding UK Law for Tradespeople

Navigate UK invoice payment terms with confidence and ensure timely payments for your trades business.

9 March 20267 min read
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InvoicingSelf-employedSole trader

Self-employed invoice template UK (2026): free fields, VAT and examples

Free self-employed invoice template UK for sole traders — fields, CIS when a contractor pays, VAT £90k, worked example and FAQ.

9 March 20265 min read
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invoicingbuildersconstruction

Invoicing for Builders: How to Get Paid Faster in 2026

A practical guide to invoicing for UK builders — from setting payment terms to chasing late payments and staying MTD-compliant.

3 March 20269 min read
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invoicingroofersroofing

Invoicing for roofers UK (2026): when to bill, deposits, weather

Process guide for UK roofers: when to invoice, deposits before tiles, scaffold and weather delays, guarantees, CIS, VAT at £90,000, and MTD records versus filing. Links to the long roofer template rather than repeating it.

2 March 202613 min read
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