What is a VAT invoice?

A VAT invoice is an invoice that meets the extra requirements a VAT-registered business must satisfy so the customer can reclaim the tax. The critical additions over a plain invoice are your VAT registration number, the VAT rate applied to each line, and the VAT amount shown separately from the net amount.

If any of those are missing, the customer's reclaim can be refused — which usually means the invoice comes back to you for reissue.

What a VAT invoice must show

Requirements differ slightly across jurisdictions, but this list covers the common core in the UK and the EU.

• A unique sequential invoice number
• Your business name, address and VAT registration number
• The customer's name and address, plus their VAT number for cross-border supplies
• The tax point — the date the supply took place, which may differ from the invoice date
• A description of each supply with the VAT rate applied
• The net amount per rate, the VAT amount per rate, and the total VAT
• The gross total payable

Mixed VAT rates on one invoice

Many supplies mix rates — standard-rated consultancy alongside zero-rated printed matter, for example. Because each line carries its own rate in this generator, mixed-rate invoices total correctly without manual arithmetic, and any discount is spread across lines in proportion so the VAT on each rate stays right.

Reverse charge and zero-rated supplies

Where the reverse charge applies — commonly on B2B services supplied across an EU border — you charge 0% and add a note stating that the customer must account for the VAT. Set the line tax rate to zero and put the wording in the notes field so it prints on the PDF.