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Accounting and invoicing for retailers

In the shop customers pay at the till. Beside that there are business customers with an invoice, orders on call, returns and many suppliers with their own payment terms. Saldiqo takes over that part and keeps purchasing and payments in hand.

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What comes up for retailers and specialist shops

Till and invoice side by side

Walk-in customers pay through the till. Companies, clubs and public bodies order on invoice, often with a delivery note and a payment term.

Purchasing from many suppliers

Every supplier has its own invoices, due dates and discounts. Without an overview you pay too early or too late.

Items and prices

Hundreds of items with numbers, units and prices should be right in every quote and invoice without retyping them.

Returns and credit notes

Customers bring goods back, and every return needs a correction to the original invoice.

How Saldiqo helps

  • Item masterYou create items with number, unit and price once and add them to quotes and invoices with a click.
  • Quote, delivery note, invoiceFor business customers the quote becomes the order confirmation, the delivery note and the invoice, all linked.
  • Supplier invoices with due datesYou record purchase invoices with their due date. Open invoices can be bundled into a batch payment file for online banking.
  • Credit note on returnThe correction stays linked to the original invoice.
  • Cost centre per branchAssign income and expenses to branches and compare them in the report.

Typical invoice lines

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

  • Items as per order, delivered to the company address
  • Made to measure, flat fee
  • Shipping and packaging
  • Credit note: return of two items
  • Gift voucher, issued
  • Set-up and briefing on site

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.

For retailers and specialist shops in Malta

Sales to consumers need a fiscal receipt from an approved system. Saldiqo covers tax invoices to businesses that give you a VAT number.

Frequently asked questions

Does Saldiqo replace the shop till?

No. Saldiqo is not a till system. Cash sales in the shop belong in a till that meets the rules of your country. Saldiqo handles invoices, delivery notes, reminders and expenses.

Is there an item master?

Yes. You create items with number, unit, price and tax rate once and insert them into quotes and invoices.

Can I evaluate several branches separately?

Yes, with cost centres. You assign income and expenses to a branch and see the report per branch.

Do retailers and specialist shops 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 retailers and specialist shops 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 retailers and specialist shops 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.