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Accounting and invoicing for painters and decorators

Facade, interior painting, wallpapering and varnishing: a painting firm bills by area and hours and supplies material. Saldiqo writes quotes by square metre, issues stage invoices on longer jobs and records paint and material as expenses.

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What comes up for painters and decorators

Price by area and effort

Square metres, hours, scaffolding and material: a quote is made of many small numbers that return on the invoice.

Property managers and housing companies

Large clients commission many single jobs and pay on terms, often after inspection.

Private customers who want instalments

On larger jobs private customers like part payments, which should be documented cleanly.

How Saldiqo helps

  • Quote by areaSquare metre prices and flat fees as items, quantity per job.
  • Stage and final invoicePart payments from the quote, final invoice deducts them.
  • Regulars with payment termsProperty managers as contacts with their own payment term and reminders.
  • Record materialPaint and accessories by phone photo as expenses with a cost centre per job.

Typical invoice lines

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

  • Interior painting, 85 square metres, two coats
  • Facade painting including preparation
  • Wallpapering, woodchip
  • Scaffolding re-invoiced as per receipt
  • Paint and material as per delivery note
  • Stage invoice 30 % at start of work

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

Can I bill by square metre?

Yes. You create the square metre price as an item and enter the quantity per job.

How do I bill property managers?

You create them as contacts, set a payment term and send reminders when they are late.

Do painters and decorators 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 painters and decorators 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 painters and decorators 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.

Try Saldiqo for free

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.