Accounting and invoicing for event agencies
Company parties, trade fairs, conferences and product launches: an event agency bills budgets of many thousands of euros with a deposit, third-party services and a final invoice. Saldiqo issues stage invoices, assigns supplier invoices to the event and shows per event what is left after all costs.
What comes up for event agencies
Large budgets in stages
An event costs five or six figures. Stage invoices cover upfront costs.
Many suppliers
Venue, catering, equipment, artists and staff deliver invoices that have to be assigned to the event.
Margin per event
The agency earns on the difference. Each event has to be evaluated on its own.
How Saldiqo helps
- Stage invoices per milestoneQuote, stage invoices, final invoice.
- Cost centre per eventSuppliers, material and revenue per event.
- Invoices to corporate clientsPayment term and reminders.
- Re-invoicingThird-party services as a line with receipt.
Typical invoice lines
Examples that often appear on invoices in this industry. You set the prices yourself.
- Event concept and planning, flat fee
- Venue and catering re-invoiced as per receipt
- Equipment and stage, flat fee
- Staff on site, hours
- Agency service production
- Deposit 40 % on commissioning
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
How do I see the margin per event?
With cost centres per event. Supplier invoices and revenue appear in one report.
How do I bill large budgets?
With stage invoices per milestone from the quote and a final invoice.
Do event agencies 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 event agencies 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 event agencies 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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As of October 2026. General information, not legal or tax advice, without guarantee. For your case ask your tax adviser.