Sole trader and invoicing

[sarah27]

On many forums, one often reads that sole trader invoices need to include the following:

- Personal name trading as XXX (if sole trader is using a business name)
- Registered address (usually the home address)

However, a Government website says:

Sole trader invoices

If you're a sole trader, the invoice must also include:

- the trader's name or any business name being used

- an address where any legal documents can be delivered to you if you are using a business name

(As a new member, I'm not allowed to post URLs, however google "invoicing-and-taking-payment-from-customers/invoices-what-they-must-include" and it comes up first link.)

So it seems one can omit one's personal name from invoices - as long as a business name is given. And one can use a PO Box address (if using a business name).

Is this right?

 

[Scalloway]

You must put your own name on business stationery. The uk gov website is fairly new and some of the information is not quite correct. Business names, including sole traders, are covered by the Companies Act 2006.

http://www.companieshouse.gov.uk/about/gbhtml/gp1.shtml#ch9

If you use a business name, you must include your own or the partners' names
in legible characters on:

• business letters;
• written orders for goods or services to be supplied to the business;
• business emails;
• invoices and receipts issued in the course of the business;
• written demands for payment of debts arising in the course of the business.

You must also include an address in the UK to enable business documents to be served on the sole trader or any partner shown on business stationery .

 

[123Simples]

On many forums, one often reads that sole trader invoices need to include the following:

- Personal name trading as XXX (if sole trader is using a business name)
- Registered address (usually the home address)

However, a Government website says:

Sole trader invoices

If you’re a sole trader, the invoice must also include:

- the trader’s name or any business name being used

- an address where any legal documents can be delivered to you if you are using a business name

(As a new member, I'm not allowed to post URLs, however google "invoicing-and-taking-payment-from-customers/invoices-what-they-must-include" and it comes up first link.)

So it seems one can omit one's personal name from invoices - as long as a business name is given. And one can use a PO Box address (if using a business name).

Is this right?

The key word here is "must"
I'm a little confused as to what you are actually asking, but generally speaking you would have a business name, an address and a contact phone number, website URL or email.
As long as it is clear who the invoice is sent to and sent from, then it seems adequate to make sure you clearly define a way of someone getting in touch with you, or recognising your business as being the one who issued that invoice

 

[sarah27]

You must put your own name on business stationery. The uk gov website is fairly new and some of the information is not quite correct. Business names, including sole traders, are covered by the Companies Act 2006.

Thanks Scalloway, you're absolutely brilliant. I shall be more cautious with the uk gov website from now on, and refer to the weblink you've kindly post.

What's interesting about the weblink quote is that it says the personal name must be included, but it doesn't seem to demand any particular wording.

So instead of "Joe Blogs trading as XYZ Services", perhaps one can put



XYZ Services [at the top of the invoice]

...

Joe Blogs is the sole proprietor of XYZ Services [at bottom of invoice]



Do you think that's acceptable?


Also, regarding the second point in my original post, the issue of address, the link you provided states:

"You must also include an address in the UK to enable business documents to be served on the sole trader or any partner shown on business stationery ."

I presume a PO Box address will suffice. Am I right?

 

[sarah27]

The key word here is "must"
I'm a little confused as to what you are actually asking, but generally speaking you would have a business name, an address and a contact phone number, website URL or email.
As long as it is clear who the invoice is sent to and sent from, then it seems adequate to make sure you clearly define a way of someone getting in touch with you, or recognising your business as being the one who issued that invoice

To clarify: I'm asking whether sole traders need to include one's personal name and home address on invoices (and other business stationary).

The gov uk website appears to claim that one doesn't need to include one's personal name, but this appears to be an error.

 

[Scalloway]

So instead of "Joe Blogs trading as XYZ Services", perhaps one can put



XYZ Services [at the top of the invoice]

...

Joe Blogs is the sole proprietor of XYZ Services [at bottom of invoice]



Do you think that's acceptable?

Yes that would be ok

Also, regarding the second point in my original post, the issue of address, the link you provided states:

"You must also include an address in the UK to enable business documents to be served on the sole trader or any partner shown on business stationery ."

I presume a PO Box address will suffice. Am I right?

Again I think that is ok