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Accounting and invoicing for joiners

Fitted kitchen, staircase, windows, made-to-measure furniture: a joinery builds one-offs with long lead times and high material value. Saldiqo issues a deposit on order, part invoices on delivery and a final invoice after fitting and keeps timber and fittings invoices in view.

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What comes up for joiners and carpenters

One-offs with a long lead time

Weeks pass between order and fitting. In that time money sits in timber and fittings.

Fitting at the customer

Measuring, delivery and fitting are separate steps, each with time and travel.

Material costs fluctuate

Timber prices change. Whoever assigns receipts per job knows the margin.

How Saldiqo helps

  • Deposit on orderFrom the quote you create the deposit invoice on order confirmation.
  • Part invoice on deliveryOn larger projects you bill parts, and the final invoice deducts everything.
  • Material per jobRecord timber merchant invoices and assign them to the job’s cost centre.
  • Fitting by the hourRecord time and take it into the final invoice as a line.

Typical invoice lines

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

  • Made-to-measure fitted kitchen, manufacture
  • Oak staircase, manufacture and fitting
  • Site measurement, flat fee
  • Fitting, hour
  • Fittings and material as per delivery note
  • Deposit 40 % on order confirmation

Tax and invoicing in Malta

What applies to invoices in Malta, in short. As of October 2026.

VAT
Rates 18 %, 12 %, 7 % and 5 %. Malta has no zero rate in law. Exports, EU supplies, food and medicines are exempt with credit, which lets you reclaim input VAT. Exempt without credit does not.
Article 11 small undertakings
With up to €35,000 of domestic turnover a year you can be exempt under Article 11. The status ends on the day the limit is passed, and you still register with the VAT department. Saldiqo adds the exemption note and leaves VAT off.
Tax invoice or fiscal receipt
A tax invoice is issued only when the customer gives you a VAT number. Otherwise a fiscal receipt from an approved system is required. Saldiqo writes invoices. It is not a fiscal receipt system, and a Saldiqo PDF does not replace a fiscal receipt.
Invoice timing
Issue the invoice by the 15th of the following month, or when payment arrives if that comes first. Simplified invoices are allowed up to €100.
E-invoicing
There is no mandate. Public bodies accept e-invoices through Peppol (EN 16931). The tax authority plans e-invoicing and real-time reporting but has set no dates, and EU rules apply from 1 July 2030.
VAT returns
Returns are due by the 15th day of the second month after the period, with 7 extra days when you file and pay electronically. Article 11 businesses file a yearly declaration by 15 February. Saldiqo does not file returns.
Record keeping
VAT records for 6 years, income tax records for 9 years and company records for 10 years. Plan for 10 years.
Late payment
Interest on late business payments is 10.40 %, plus €40 compensation between businesses.
Languages
Use Saldiqo in English or Maltese and send invoices in either language.

Frequently asked questions

How do I bill a job with a deposit?

With a quote, a deposit invoice on order, a part invoice on delivery and a final invoice after fitting.

How do I see the margin per job?

With cost centres. You assign material, time and invoices to the job.

Do joiners and carpenters in Malta have to charge VAT?

If you are registered under Article 10, yes. Small undertakings under Article 11 with domestic turnover of up to €35,000 a year are exempt from charging VAT, but the status ends on the day the limit is passed.

Do joiners and carpenters in Malta need a fiscal receipt?

Sales to consumers need a fiscal receipt from an approved fiscal receipt system, and Article 11 businesses use one for all sales. Saldiqo is not such a system. It covers tax invoices to customers who give you their VAT number.

How long should joiners and carpenters keep invoices?

VAT records for 6 years, income tax records for 9 years and company records for 10 years, so plan for 10 years. You can store receipts digitally in Saldiqo. The legal duty to keep records stays with you.

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Write invoices, match payments, collect receipts and send reminders: free and without a trial period.

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As of October 2026. General information, not legal or tax advice, without guarantee. For your case ask your tax adviser.