Accounting and invoicing for garages
Estimate, job, spare parts, labour, invoice: in the garage every invoice hangs on a vehicle and on parts from the wholesaler. Saldiqo writes quote, order confirmation and invoice from the same lines and keeps supplier invoices in view.
What comes up for garages and auto repair shops
Parts and labour kept apart
Customers and insurers want to see spare parts, labour and disposal separately. Every line should be traceable.
Estimate and job
Before the repair comes the estimate, afterwards the job. If the invoice differs, there are questions.
Parts from the wholesaler
Spare parts come from several suppliers with their own invoices and terms. The receipts must stay assignable to the jobs.
Fleet and business customers
Businesses with vehicles expect a collective invoice or fixed monthly invoices and pay on terms.
How Saldiqo helps
- From estimate to invoiceThe quote turns into order confirmation and invoice with the same lines, without retyping.
- Item master for parts and servicesLabour hours, flat fees and common parts you create once.
- Stage invoice for big repairsFor expensive jobs you issue a stage invoice from the quote, and the final invoice deducts it.
- Service contracts as recurring invoicesFixed monthly amounts for fleet customers are created by a recurring invoice on schedule.
- Supplier receipts and paymentsYou record wholesale receipts as expenses and bundle open invoices into a batch payment file for online banking.
Typical invoice lines
Examples that often appear on invoices in this industry. You set the prices yourself.
- Front brake pads, set
- Workshop labour, hours
- Service to manufacturer schedule, flat fee
- Disposal of waste oil and old parts
- Recovery service, flat fee
- Roadworthiness test, preparation and presentation
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 show parts and labour as separate lines?
Yes. You create them as items and add them individually to the invoice, each with its own tax rate.
Can I bill used cars under a margin scheme?
No. Saldiqo does not know the margin scheme. For repairs, parts, accessories and services Saldiqo fits.
How do I keep open invoices in view?
After the bank statement you see which invoices are paid. For the rest you send a payment reminder with one click.
Do garages and auto repair shops 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 garages and auto repair shops 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 garages and auto repair shops 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.