Revenue Note for Guidance

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Revenue Note for Guidance

71. Self-billing and outsourcing

Summary

This section sets out the self-billing and outsourcing arrangements for invoicing. The general rule is that that where a person supplies goods and services to an accountable person, the registered customer may issue the invoice provided certain conditions are met. Outsourcing, under which invoices may be issued by a person who acts in the name and on behalf of the supplier, is also catered for in the section.

Details

(1) Where a person supplies goods and services to an accountable person, the registered customer may issue the invoice provided certain conditions are met. These conditions are that:

  • (1)(a) there is prior agreement between the supplier and the customer that the customer may draw up and issue the invoice,
  • (1)(b) the customer is a person registered for VAT,
  • (1)(c) any conditions which are imposed by the VAT Act or by regulations on the supplier in relation to the form, content or issue of the invoice are met by the customer, and
  • (1)(d) agreed procedures are in place for the acceptance by the supplier of the validity of the invoice.

(2) An invoice is deemed to have been issued by the supplier in accordance with subsection (1) only when it is accepted by the supplier in accordance with the agreed procedures mentioned in the subsection.

(3) Outsourcing is dealt with in subsection (3), which provides that an invoice required to be issued by a supplier under the Chapter is deemed to be so issued by that supplier if—

  • (3)(a) It is issued by a person who acts in the name and on behalf of the supplier, and
  • (3)(b) Any conditions that are imposed by the VAT Act or by regulations on the supplier in relation to the form, content or issue of the invoice are met.

(4) Subsection (4) provides that any credit note or debit note issued in accordance with the Chapter that amends and refers specifically and unambiguously to an invoice is treated as if it were an invoice for self-billing /outsourcing purposes. In other words, credit notes, etc. can be outsourced or self-billed too.

(5) Revenue may make regulations in relation to the conditions applying to invoices covered by the section. (See Regulation 21 of the VAT Regulations 2010.)

Relevant Date: Finance Act 2020