VATREC5050 | VAT invoice: Description of goods or services

Invoices must contain sufficiently detailed description of the goods or nature of the services provided. HMRC is aware of some common industry-practices and will continue to consider each case on its individual merits.

Use of coded descriptions of good

Details of arrangements for using coded descriptions on a VAT invoice in the wholesale trade are given in VATREC16025.

Coded descriptions may also be accepted in certain other circumstances, for example, where firms whose trade is restricted to a large number of specialised parts or fittings issue illustrated catalogues to their customers (a common practice with builders’ merchants).

These catalogues quote details such as a part number, a size and a name. Normally the customer orders on the basis of the part number and the sales invoice shows only the part numbers as a description of the goods. You may accept such sales invoices as giving an adequate description of the goods sold provided that the trade outlets are supplied with an up-to-date catalogue that is made available to any inspecting officer on request.