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Accounting and invoicing for scaffolders

Erection and dismantling, hire period, safety nets and weather protection: scaffolders bill erection, standing time in weeks and dismantling separately. Saldiqo shows erection and dismantling as separate lines, creates hire invoices on schedule and shows which scaffolds are still up and not yet paid.

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What comes up for scaffolders

Three services in one

Erection, hire and dismantling have separate prices and arise at different times.

Extended standing time

Sites are delayed. Every further week is revenue that keeps running until the scaffold comes down.

Clients are often tradespeople

Roofers, painters and building firms order the scaffold. Reverse charge for construction may apply.

How Saldiqo helps

  • Erection and dismantling as linesPer square metre or flat fee, with acceptance date.
  • Hire as a recurring invoiceSaldiqo creates the weekly or monthly hire on schedule until the scaffold is down.
  • Reverse chargeFor jobs for building firms you choose the tax type reverse charge.
  • Open scaffolds in viewAfter the bank statement you see which clients have not paid yet.

Typical invoice lines

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

  • Erect scaffold, 240 square metres of facade
  • Hire, weeks 3 to 6
  • Dismantling and removal
  • Weather protection sheeting, square metres
  • Safety net, running metres
  • Stage invoice 50 % on erection

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 bill the standing time automatically?

Yes. A recurring invoice creates the hire on a fixed date. You stop the series on dismantling.

Does the reverse charge apply to scaffolding?

Scaffolding for businesses that provide construction services themselves can count as a construction service. You clear that case by case with your tax adviser.

Do scaffolders 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 scaffolders 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 scaffolders 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.