What is a VAT invoice?
A VAT invoice is a formal document issued by a VAT-registered business that clearly outlines the value-added tax (VAT) charged on a transaction. Unlike a standard invoice, a VAT invoice includes specific tax-related details required by law in many regions (especially in the EU and UK), making it essential for both tax reporting and VAT recovery.
VAT invoices serve two key purposes:
- For sellers: to record taxable sales and comply with tax regulations
- For buyers: to reclaim VAT on eligible business expenses
In many jurisdictions, issuing a valid VAT invoice is not optional—it’s a legal requirement for B2B transactions involving VAT.
What information must a VAT invoice include?
While requirements can vary slightly by country, most VAT invoices typically include the following:
🧾 Core invoice details
- A unique invoice number (for tracking and audit purposes)
- Issue date and, where required, the date of supply
- Currency used in the transaction
🏢 Seller information
- Business name and address
- VAT registration number
🧑💼 Buyer information (for B2B transactions)
- Customer’s business name and address
- Customer’s VAT number (especially important for cross-border transactions)
📦 Transaction details
- Itemized list of goods or services
- Quantity and unit price
- Any discounts applied
💰 VAT breakdown
- VAT rate(s) applied (e.g., 0%, 5%, 20%)
- Net amount (excluding VAT)
- Total VAT charged
- Gross total (including VAT)
Why VAT Invoices Matter
VAT invoices are more than just receipts—they are critical financial documents:
- ✔️ Tax compliance: Ensure your business meets local tax regulations
- ✔️ Accurate accounting: Clearly separate net revenue and tax liabilities
- ✔️ VAT reclaim: Allow customers to recover VAT on eligible purchases
- ✔️ Audit readiness: Provide a clear record for tax authorities
Without a proper VAT invoice, businesses may not be able to reclaim VAT, even if it was paid.
Does Vify support VAT invoices?
Vify Order Printer PDF Invoice (commonly known as Vify PDF Invoice or Vify Order Printer) doesn’t specifically label an output as a “VAT invoice,” but it supports all the key elements needed to create compliant VAT-informed invoices:
✅ The app lets you generate customizable invoice PDFs that include itemized prices, tax amounts, and shop details.
✅ It can capture and display customer VAT numbers or other tax IDs on invoices, useful for EU / B2B VAT compliance.
So while Vify may not call it a “VAT invoice” in the label, what you can generate from the app contains the necessary data fields that a VAT invoice requires in most regions — provided you include the right VAT numbers and configure the template correctly. It is the best invoice app for Shopify that includes VAT and no code-knowledge needed.
Which Vify plan lets you include VAT info?
All Vify plans let you include VAT information on invoices. No matter which plan you’re on, VAT or tax amounts are automatically shown based on your Template settings, so your invoices always reflect the correct tax details without requiring a specific plan upgrade. Once set up, the invoices you generate through Vify will include all essential VAT details — keeping your store’s tax documentation clean and compliant.
Final Thoughts
A VAT invoice is a crucial document for any VAT-registered business, especially those selling internationally or working with other businesses. It ensures transparency, supports tax compliance, and enables VAT recovery.
With Vify, merchants can easily generate invoices that include all the necessary VAT elements—without coding or complex setup. By customizing your template and ensuring your tax details are correctly configured, you can produce professional, compliant VAT invoices directly from your Shopify store.
