---
title: How to raise a sales invoice in Xero
description: How to raise a sales invoice in Xero
---
[Skip to content](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/how-to-raise-a-sales-invoice-in-xero#main-content)
[](https://www.1stformations.co.uk/)
- [Help Centre](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/)
Open main navigation
Close main navigation
- [Help Centre](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/)
- [Login](https://www.1stformations.co.uk/login/)
[Login](https://www.1stformations.co.uk/login/)
How can we help you?
- There are no suggestions because the search field is empty.
1. [Accounting Service](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service?hsLang=en-gb)
2. [Bookkeeping Basics](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/bookkeeping-basics?hsLang=en-gb)
3. [Recording Sales and Purchases](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/bookkeeping-basics?hsLang=en-gb#recording-sales-and-purchases)
# How to raise a sales invoice in Xero
## A guide to creating and sending an invoice in Xero
Every sale your business makes should be recorded as an approved invoice in Xero. This is how your income is captured for both your accounts and your VAT return.
### Creating an invoice
In Xero, go to ‘Business’, then ‘Invoices’, and click ‘New Invoice’. Enter the customer name (or add a new contact), the invoice date, the due date based on your payment terms, and the line items with the correct account code and VAT rate. Add a description of the work. Select ‘Approve’ to finalise the invoice.
### Sending the invoice
After approving, click ‘Send’ to email the invoice directly from Xero. Xero records the sent date and tracks whether it has been opened by the recipient. Approved invoices that have not been sent appear in ‘Awaiting Payment’ in Xero and may be included in your VAT return for the period (depending on if you are on the accruals or invoice basis for VAT).
💡 **Good to know:** Always use the ‘Approve’ button before sending. A Draft invoice is not included in your VAT return or income figures. Only Approved invoices are recognised as income in Xero.
### Not found what you're looking for?
Please get in touch and we'll be happy to help:
**Email:** You can submit a request using our [contact form](https://forms.1stformations.co.uk/contact/)
**Phone:** 020 3897 2233
**Live Chat:** Select the live chat icon on the bottom right
- [Your Plan](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/your-plan?hsLang=en-gb#main-content)
- [Understanding Your Plan](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/your-plan?hsLang=en-gb#understanding-your-plan)
- [Compliance Included in Your Plan](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/your-plan?hsLang=en-gb#compliance-included-in-your-plan)
- [Your Xero Plan](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/your-plan?hsLang=en-gb#your-xero-plan)
- [Add-ons Explained](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/your-plan?hsLang=en-gb#add-ons-explained)
- [Working with Us](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/working-with-us?hsLang=en-gb#main-content)
- [How to Contact Us](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/working-with-us?hsLang=en-gb#how-to-contact-us)
- [Your Accountant and Support Team](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/working-with-us?hsLang=en-gb#your-accountant-and-support-team)
- [Keeping Your Details Up to Date](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/working-with-us?hsLang=en-gb#keeping-your-details-up-to-date)
- [New Company Essentials](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/new-company-essentials?hsLang=en-gb#main-content)
- [Getting Started](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/new-company-essentials?hsLang=en-gb#getting-started)
- [Before and Beyond Trading](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/new-company-essentials?hsLang=en-gb#before-and-beyond-trading)
- [What You Can and Can't Claim](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/what-you-can-and-cant-claim?hsLang=en-gb#main-content)
- [Benefits, Perks, and Grey Areas](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/what-you-can-and-cant-claim?hsLang=en-gb#benefits-perks-and-grey-areas)
- [Mileage, Travel and Subsistence](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/what-you-can-and-cant-claim?hsLang=en-gb#mileage-travel-and-subsistence)
- [Xero Training and Analytics](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/xero-training-and-analytics?hsLang=en-gb#main-content)
- [Weekly Xero Training Sessions](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/xero-training-and-analytics?hsLang=en-gb#weekly-xero-training-sessions)
- [Xero Health Checks](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/xero-training-and-analytics?hsLang=en-gb#xero-health-checks)
- [Syft Analytics](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/xero-training-and-analytics?hsLang=en-gb#syft-analytics)
- [Tax Reviews and Webinars](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/tax-reviews-and-webinars?hsLang=en-gb#main-content)
- [Annual Tax Efficiency Review](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/tax-reviews-and-webinars?hsLang=en-gb#annual-tax-efficiency-review)
- [Quarterly Business Performance Review](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/tax-reviews-and-webinars?hsLang=en-gb#quarterly-business-performance-review)
- [Topical Webinars](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/tax-reviews-and-webinars?hsLang=en-gb#topical-webinars)
- [Bookkeeping Basics](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/bookkeeping-basics?hsLang=en-gb#main-content)
- [Day-to-Day Bookkeeping Workflow](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/bookkeeping-basics?hsLang=en-gb#day-to-day-bookkeeping-workflow)
- [Bank Reconciliation](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/bookkeeping-basics?hsLang=en-gb#bank-reconciliation)
- [Recording Sales and Purchases](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/bookkeeping-basics?hsLang=en-gb#recording-sales-and-purchases)
- [Managing Receipts and Best Practice](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/bookkeeping-basics?hsLang=en-gb#managing-receipts-and-best-practice)
- [VAT Registration and Submissions](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/vat-registration-and-submissions?hsLang=en-gb#main-content)
- [Do I Need to Register for VAT](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/vat-registration-and-submissions?hsLang=en-gb#do-i-need-to-register-for-vat)
- [Submitting VAT Returns](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/vat-registration-and-submissions?hsLang=en-gb#submitting-vat-returns)
- [VAT on Sales and Purchases](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/vat-registration-and-submissions?hsLang=en-gb#vat-on-sales-and-purchases)
- [VAT Payments and Schemes](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/vat-registration-and-submissions?hsLang=en-gb#vat-payments-and-schemes)
- [Paying Yourself and Employees](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/paying-yourself-and-employees?hsLang=en-gb#main-content)
- [Paying Directors: Salary vs Dividends](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/paying-yourself-and-employees?hsLang=en-gb#paying-directors-salary-vs-dividends)
- [Your Payslip and National Insurance](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/paying-yourself-and-employees?hsLang=en-gb#your-payslip-and-national-insurance)
- [Dividends: Legal Process](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/paying-yourself-and-employees?hsLang=en-gb#dividends-legal-process)
- [Payroll Essentials for New Directors](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/paying-yourself-and-employees?hsLang=en-gb#payroll-essentials-for-new-directors)
- [Hiring and Employment Status](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/paying-yourself-and-employees?hsLang=en-gb#hiring-and-employment-status)
- [Corporation Tax and Year-End](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/corporation-tax-and-year-end?hsLang=en-gb#main-content)
- [Corporation Tax Fundamentals](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/corporation-tax-and-year-end?hsLang=en-gb#corporation-tax-fundamentals)
- [Allowable Expenses and Year-End Planning](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/corporation-tax-and-year-end?hsLang=en-gb#allowable-expenses-and-year-end-planning)
- [PAYE and Payroll Basics](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/corporation-tax-and-year-end?hsLang=en-gb#paye-and-payroll-basics)
- [Director's Loan and HMRC Communications](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/corporation-tax-and-year-end?hsLang=en-gb#directors-loan-and-hmrc-communications)
- [Losses, Rates and Reliefs](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/corporation-tax-and-year-end?hsLang=en-gb#losses-rates-and-reliefs)
- [Invoices & Payments](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/invoices-payments?hsLang=en-gb#main-content)
- [Creating Invoices and Getting Paid](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/invoices-payments?hsLang=en-gb#creating-invoices-and-getting-paid)
- [Invoice Numbering and Record Keeping](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/invoices-payments?hsLang=en-gb#invoice-numbering-and-record-keeping)
- [Personal Tax for Directors](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/personal-tax-for-directors?hsLang=en-gb#main-content)
- [Drawing Money from Your Company](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/personal-tax-for-directors?hsLang=en-gb#drawing-money-from-your-company)
- [Self Assessment Practical Guide](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/personal-tax-for-directors?hsLang=en-gb#self-assessment-practical-guide)
- [National Insurance and Benefits](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/personal-tax-for-directors?hsLang=en-gb#national-insurance-and-benefits)
- [Household Finances](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/personal-tax-for-directors?hsLang=en-gb#household-finances)
- [Using Xero](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/using-xero?hsLang=en-gb#main-content)
- [Getting Started with Xero](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/using-xero?hsLang=en-gb#getting-started-with-xero)
- [Bank Feeds and Making Tax Digital](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/using-xero?hsLang=en-gb#bank-feeds-and-making-tax-digital)
- [Xero for VAT and Payroll](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/using-xero?hsLang=en-gb#xero-for-vat-and-payroll)
- [Understanding your Numbers](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/understanding-your-numbers?hsLang=en-gb#main-content)
- [Key Accounting Terms Explained](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/understanding-your-numbers?hsLang=en-gb#key-accounting-terms-explained)
- [Reading your Financial Reports](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/understanding-your-numbers?hsLang=en-gb#reading-your-financial-reports)
- [Using Your Numbers to Make Decisions](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/understanding-your-numbers?hsLang=en-gb#using-your-numbers-to-make-decisions)
- [Your Compliance Calendar](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/understanding-your-numbers?hsLang=en-gb#your-compliance-calendar)
- Terms & Conditions
- Privacy Policy
- Cookie Policy
[](https://www.1stformations.co.uk)
[mailto:email@email.com](mailto:email@email.com)
Copyright 2026 © 1st Formations
We are proud to be a Certified B Corporation™