Accounting and invoicing for recruitment consultants
Retainer on engagement, success fee on hire, shortlist and guarantee period: recruiters have invoices in stages with high single amounts. Saldiqo issues retainer and success fee separately, reminds on open items and creates credit notes when the hire fails.
What comes up for recruitment consultants
Invoices in stages
First instalment on engagement, second on shortlist, third on hire. Each has its moment.
Guarantee period
If a candidate leaves in the probation period, a credit note or a replacement follows.
High single amounts
A fee is often a third of a yearly salary. Payment terms and follow-up matter.
How Saldiqo helps
- Invoices in stagesRetainer, shortlist, success as separate invoices or stage invoices.
- Credit note on a guarantee caseLinked to the original invoice.
- RemindersKeep open items in view.
- Cost centre per mandateEffort and return per mandate.
Typical invoice lines
Examples that often appear on invoices in this industry. You set the prices yourself.
- Retainer on engagement, mandate 2027-14
- Shortlist presentation, 3 candidates
- Success fee on hire, 28 % of yearly salary
- Job advert re-invoiced as per receipt
- Credit note: leaver in probation
- Sourcing effort by the hour
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 bill retainer and success fee?
As stage invoices from the quote, with a line per stage.
How do I treat a guarantee case?
With a credit note to the success invoice if you repay fees.
Do recruitment consultants 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 recruitment consultants 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 recruitment consultants 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.