How to get ready for e-invoicing

There's no rush, and nothing changes before 2029. But a few small steps now will make the switch painless, and most of them will save you time anyway.

If you're not VAT registered

You're not expected to need e-invoices. The government has said many of the smallest businesses that aren't VAT registered won't be obliged to use them. Two things are still worth doing:

• Keep an eye on your turnover. You must register for VAT if it goes over £90,000 in any rolling 12 months, and e-invoicing could apply from then on.
• Consider moving from paper, Word or Excel to invoicing software. It's quicker, it chases payments for you, and you'll be ready if you grow.

If you're VAT registered and only work for homeowners

No change is expected for invoices to homeowners and other private customers. If you ever invoice a business, a landlord's company or a public body, the steps below apply to those invoices.

If you're VAT registered and invoice businesses or the public sector

1. Sort your customers into types. Homeowners, businesses and public bodies. Only invoices to the last two are expected to need e-invoices.
2. Collect your business customers' details. Their full registered name and address, their VAT number and, for public bodies, the buyer reference or purchase order number they want on invoices. If they already use Peppol, ask for their Peppol ID.
3. Move off paper, Word and spreadsheets. You can't send an e-invoice from a Word template. You'll need invoicing or accounts software that can create e-invoices and send them over Peppol.
4. Ask your software provider about their plans. Use the questions below.
5. Tidy up your invoices now. Use one unbroken sequence of invoice numbers, show the VAT rate on every line, and use proper credit notes rather than editing old invoices.
6. Talk to your accountant, especially if you use the VAT domestic reverse charge, CIS or self-billing.
7. Watch for the official roadmap at the Budget on 28 October 2026. We'll summarise it here.

Questions to ask your software provider

• Can your software create e-invoices today? In which format?
• Will you connect to Peppol, and by when?
• Will e-invoicing cost extra?
• Will you update the software when HMRC publishes the UK standard?
• How do you handle the VAT domestic reverse charge, CIS deductions and credit notes on an e-invoice?
• Can I receive e-invoices from my suppliers too?

Be wary of anyone promising their software is "fully compliant" with the 2029 rules. The UK standard and the law haven't been published yet, so nobody can promise that today. What a provider can tell you is how they're preparing and how they'll keep up.

Sources

• Promoting electronic invoicing: consultation response (HMRC and DBT, 26 November 2025)
• GOV.UK: when to register for VAT
• Procurement Act 2023, section 67: electronic invoicing
• Cabinet Office guidance: electronic invoicing and payment (updated 20 July 2026)
• Tax update 2026: summary (23 June 2026)
• Chancellor's letter confirming the Budget 2026 date (31 July 2026)

All facts on this page were last checked against these official sources on 19 October 2026.

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