Accountant invoice template
A worked example for accountants in the professional services category, with 2026 prices and the VAT rules that apply.
A accountant invoice should show a unique invoice number, your name and address, the client's details, the date, each item of work with its price, and the total due. Accountants typically allow 30 days to pay. VAT at 20% is added only if you are VAT registered.
Example accountant invoice
Dated 1 October 2026 with 30 day terms. Names and prices are fictional.
Invoice
INV-0042
From
R. Nowak
Accountant
Unit 9, Orchard Business Park
Nottingham
NG7 5FG
Bill to
Northgate Dental Ltd
Unit 4, Riverside Park
Leeds
LS10 1RW
- Invoice date
- 1 October 2026
- Due date
- 31 October 2026
- Terms
- 30 days
- Reference
- Accountant work, October 2026
| Description | Qty | Unit price | VAT | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual accounts and corporation tax return, year ended 31 March 2026 | 1 fixed | £1,150.00 | 20% | £1,150.00 |
| Self assessment tax return, director, 2025-26 | 1 return | £240.00 | 20% | £240.00 |
| Confirmation statement filing (Companies House fee £34 included) | 1 fixed | £84.00 | 20% | £84.00 |
| Tax planning meeting | 1.5 hours | £140.00 | 20% | £210.00 |
- Subtotal
- £1,684.00
- VAT at 20%
- £336.80
- Total
- £2,020.80
Typical rates for accountants
Guide figures for 2026. Rates vary by region and experience; the VAT figures come from the 2026-27 tax year data.
| Item | Typical figure |
|---|---|
| Typical hourly rate | £60 to £180 |
| Typical day rate | Not usually quoted |
| Payment terms | 30 days |
| Deposit | Not usually taken |
| VAT flat rate sector | Accountancy or book-keeping (14.5%) |
| VAT registration threshold | £90,000 taxable turnover in 12 months |
How do accountants usually invoice?
Accountants invoice either a fixed annual fee split into monthly direct debits or a fee per piece of work on completion, with year-end accounts, tax returns and company secretarial filings as separate lines. Companies House and HMRC fees paid on the client's behalf are shown as disbursements. Engagement letters set 30 day terms, and most practices stop work for clients more than 60 days overdue.
Accountants in this example give the customer 30 days to pay. Hourly rates run from £60 to £180.
What should a accountant put on an invoice?
Beyond the legal basics, accountants should:
- Reference the engagement letter and the accounting period or tax year on each line.
- Show government fees paid as agent (Companies House, HMRC) as disbursements without VAT.
- Offer monthly direct debit for the annual fee and state the annual total it adds up to.
- Charge ad hoc advice by the hour with the date and the topic, not just "advice".
Every UK invoice, whatever the trade, must also show:
- a unique, sequential invoice number
- your business name and address (and company number if you trade as a limited company)
- the client’s name and address
- the invoice date and, for VAT invoices, the date of supply if different
- a clear description of each item of work or goods
- the amount due and when it must be paid
- your VAT number, the VAT rate per line and the VAT total, if you are VAT registered
Do accountants charge VAT?
You only charge VAT once registered, which is compulsory when taxable turnover passes £90,000 in any rolling 12 months. Below that, show no VAT line and no VAT number. Once registered, these services are standard rated at 20% for UK clients; services to business clients outside the UK are generally outside the scope of UK VAT.
On the Flat Rate Scheme the sector for accountants is usually “Accountancy or book-keeping” at 14.5% of VAT-inclusive turnover, with a 1% discount in the first year of registration. If you spend little on goods you may be a limited cost trader and have to use 16.5% instead. The scheme suits businesses with few VAT-able costs; check it against the standard method with the VAT calculator before joining.
Source: GOV.UK: Invoicing and taking payment from customers; GOV.UK: VAT Flat Rate Scheme, how much you pay. Last updated .
Frequently asked questions
- How do accountants charge?
- Fixed annual fees paid monthly are now the norm for small company clients: £1,200 to £3,000 a year in 2026 for accounts, corporation tax, payroll and a director's tax return. Sole trader returns are £200 to £450. Hourly rates of £60 to £180 apply to advice and one-off projects.
- Are Companies House fees subject to VAT on an accountant's invoice?
- Not when paid as a disbursement on the client's behalf: the £34 confirmation statement fee is passed through without VAT and shown separately. Your fee for doing the filing is standard rated. Mixing the two into one VAT-able figure overcharges the client.
- Do accountants charge VAT?
- Yes at 20%; nearly every practice is registered because fee income passes £90,000. Clients who are VAT registered reclaim it. The flat rate sector is accountancy at 14.5%, which only suits a very small practice with few costs.
More professional services templates
- Consultant invoice template
- Business consultant invoice template
- Management consultant invoice template
- Marketing consultant invoice template
- HR consultant invoice template
- Recruiter invoice template
Other trades
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Cite this page: “Accountant invoice template (free UK example)”, SoleKit, https://solekit.co.uk/invoice-template/accountant