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Accounting and invoicing for electricians

New installation, emergency call-outs, inspections, smart home: an electrical contractor bills material, fitting time and test protocols, in stages on new builds and at once on call-outs. Saldiqo writes quote, stage invoice and invoice from the same lines and records material receipts from the wholesaler.

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What comes up for electricians

Material in large numbers

Cables, boxes, switches, fuses: hundreds of items from the wholesaler that have to be assigned to a job.

Call-out today, new build over months

Emergency work bills by the hour and at once, installation on a new build in stages over months.

Inspections and maintenance

Recurring inspections of installations and appliances are fixed dates at fixed prices and bring predictable turnover.

How Saldiqo helps

  • Quote, stage invoice, final invoiceStage invoices by progress come from the quote, and the final invoice deducts them.
  • Hours and material kept apartRecord fitting time with start and stop and add material as items.
  • Inspections as recurring invoicesYearly inspections and maintenance contracts are created by a recurring invoice on schedule.
  • Wholesaler receiptsPhotograph the receipt, capture it as an expense and assign it to a site.

Typical invoice lines

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

  • Electrical installation new build, stage 1 of 3
  • Electrician, hour
  • Material as per delivery note
  • Inspection of fixed installations, flat fee
  • Call-out outside working hours, surcharge
  • Smart home control, set-up

Tax and invoicing in Ireland

What applies to invoices in Ireland, in short. As of October 2026.

VAT
Standard rate 23 %, reduced rates 13.5 % and 9 %, 4.8 % for livestock, and 0 %. Since 1 July 2026 a 9 % rate applies to restaurants, catering, hot takeaway food and hairdressing, excluding alcohol and soft drinks.
VAT registration
Registration is required above €42,500 a year for services and above €85,000 for goods, if at least 90 % of turnover comes from goods. Saldiqo leaves VAT off your invoices while you are below the threshold and shows how much room is left.
What goes on an invoice
Registered businesses show their VAT number. Sole traders and partnerships providing services show their tax reference number, or their full name and address, on invoices and receipts of €7 or more (section 885 TCA). Companies show their name, CRO number and registered office, and directors’ details on letters, order forms and the website.
Invoice timing
Issue a VAT invoice within 15 days after the end of the month in which the supply took place.
E-invoicing
From 1 November 2028 every business must be able to receive e-invoices. Issuing is phased in: first for suppliers to large corporates, from November 2029 for businesses trading B2B within the EU, and from 1 July 2030 under the EU VAT in the Digital Age rules. A PDF does not count as an e-invoice, and the technical specifications are not yet published.
VAT returns
VAT3 returns are filed every two months through ROS, by the 19th of the following month, or the 23rd when you file online through ROS. Saldiqo does not file returns, your accountant or ROS does.
Record keeping
Keep records for 6 years, longer while a review is open.
Late payment
Interest on late business payments is the ECB main refinancing rate (2.40 % in the second half of 2026) plus 8 points, so 10.40 %, plus fixed compensation of €40, €70 or €100 depending on the amount owed.
Getting paid
IBAN and BIC are on every invoice, plus a SEPA QR code (EPC) for banking apps that can read it.

Frequently asked questions

Can I send stage invoices by progress?

Yes. You create stage invoices straight from the quote, and the final invoice deducts them.

How do I bill an emergency call-out?

You record hours and material and write the invoice on site or the same evening.

Do electricians in Ireland have to charge VAT?

Once they are registered, yes. Registration is required from the sale that takes turnover over €42,500 a year for services or €85,000 for goods, where at least 90 % of turnover comes from goods. Below those limits Saldiqo leaves VAT off your invoices.

Do electricians in Ireland need e-invoicing?

Not yet. From 1 November 2028 every business must be able to receive e-invoices. The duty to issue them phases in from the same date for suppliers to large corporates and later for more businesses. PDF invoices do not count as e-invoices.

How long should electricians keep invoices?

Keep records for 6 years, longer while a review is open. 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.