UK Invoice Signatures: Legal Requirements & Best Practices

Are signatures legally required on UK invoices?

No, signatures are not mandatory on UK invoices.

HMRC (Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs) does not require invoices to be signed. According to the UK government's official guidance on invoices, which applies to both limited companies and sole traders, an unsigned invoice remains fully valid for VAT purposes and bookkeeping requirements.

While a contract or client's internal policy may request a signature as an authorization step, this is a commercial preference rather than a legal or tax obligation.

Why consider adding signatures to your invoices?

Despite not being legally required, adding signatures to invoices can provide several business advantages:

Enhanced credibility and trust

A signed invoice appears more official to many customers, potentially reducing payment delays and minimizing back-and-forth communications about invoice authenticity.

Professional brand impression

The addition of a signature demonstrates attention to detail and professionalism. This small touch can significantly elevate how your brand is perceived—conveying reliability, care, and polish.

Simple implementation process

Modern invoicing doesn't require handwritten signatures. Most digital invoicing tools allow you to add professional digital signatures with just a few clicks, streamlining your workflow.

Additional assurance and documentation

A signature serves as visible confirmation of invoice accuracy and authorization, which can be valuable if questions or disputes arise later in the payment process.

Who is authorized to sign invoices?

Any individual authorized to represent your business can sign invoices, including:

• Business owner or director
• Finance manager or accountant
• Account manager
• Other designated team members with appropriate authority

The signature doesn't need to come from a specific individual—flexibility in authorization helps maintain efficient invoice processing.

How to implement digital signatures

Professional digital signature solutions

With modern invoicing platforms like createinvoice.uk, you can easily create and embed digital signatures directly into PDF invoices. The process is straightforward:

• Draw your signature using a mouse or touchscreen device
• Save the signature for future use
• Embed it automatically into generated PDFs
• Maintain a completely paperless workflow

This approach combines professionalism with efficiency, ensuring your invoices look polished while keeping your processes streamlined.

Ready to create professional invoices with digital signatures? Start creating invoices now and enhance your business's professional image.