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Accounting and invoicing for metalworking firms

Railings, gates, stairs, canopies and special fabrications: metalworkers build to drawing, bill material by weight and fabrication by the hour and often fit at the customer. Saldiqo issues a deposit on order, bills material and hours separately and records steel and supplier invoices.

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What comes up for metalworking firms

Fabrication to drawing

Every piece is unique. A quote with drawing and price comes first, changes cost extra.

Material by weight

Steel, stainless steel and aluminium have fluctuating prices. Whoever assigns receipts per job calculates better.

Galvanising and powder coating

Surface treatment is a third-party service that you re-invoice.

How Saldiqo helps

  • Deposit on orderFrom the quote you create the deposit invoice on ordering.
  • Material and hours kept apartMaterial as items, fabrication and fitting with time tracking.
  • Re-invoice third-party servicesRecord galvanising and powder coating as expenses and re-invoice them.
  • Cost centre per jobMargin per job from material, time and revenue.

Typical invoice lines

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

  • Stainless steel railing, fabrication and fitting, running metres
  • Double yard gate, to drawing
  • Galvanising and powder coating as per receipt
  • Fitting on site, hour
  • Material as per delivery note
  • Deposit 40 % on order

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 special fabrications?

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

Can I re-invoice galvanising costs?

Yes. You record the invoice as an expense and re-invoice it as a line.

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