Invoicing the council

What to include in your invoice

We prefer electronic invoices. This helps to support our aim to reduce costs by using less paper.

To ensure we pay you promptly, make sure your invoices include the following:

  • 10 digit vendor number (e.g. 1000000000, or 40000)
  • 15 digit Purchase Order (PO) number (e.g. BCC20210000000P, BCT20210000000P)
  • Where you do not have a PO number, and your service falls under one of the PO Exemption categories, then a Cost Centre is required, this will be an 8-part code (e.g. B1 – 00000 – 0000 – 000 – 00000 – 00000 – 0000 – 0000)

The PO number and cost centre reference should have been provided to you by the officer(s) procuring your goods and services.

Purchase order exemptions guidance

If you're already a Birmingham City Council supplier you'll have a unique 10 digit “vendor account” number. Quoting this is not essential, but it does help us identify you in our financial records, which speeds up the processing of your invoices and enquiries.

In addition, you must clearly display all of the following, where applicable:

  • The word ‘invoice’ on the document
  • A unique identification number (invoice number)
  • Your company name, address and contact information
  • Your telephone number and/or email address
  • The company name and address of the customer you are invoicing
  • Your VAT registration number (if charging VAT)
  • Your company registration number
  • A clear description of what you are charging for
  • The date the goods or service were provided (supply date)
  • The date of the invoice
  • The amount(s) being charged
  • VAT amount if applicable
  • The total amount owed
  • Your payment details (sort code and bank account).
  • If contracted to do work in scope of HMRC’s construction industry tax scheme, a clear breakdown of materials and labour and your UTR number.

Our example electronic invoice shows you how an ideal invoice could look.

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