Invoice requirements in Latvia: what an invoice must contain

A Latvian VAT invoice must carry every item in Section 125(1) of the Latvian VAT Act: the date of issue, a unique sequential number, both parties’ names, addresses and VAT numbers, a description with quantity and unit, the unit price without VAT, the VAT rate, the VAT amount and the total without VAT. A business that is not registered for VAT uses the shorter list in Section 11(5) of the Accounting Act and shows no VAT at all.

This page sets out the rules as they stand in September 2026, including simplified invoices, issuing deadlines, foreign currency and structured e-invoices, which become mandatory between Latvian businesses on 1 January 2028.

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Mandatory details on a VAT invoice

Section 125(1) of the VAT Act lists what turns a document into a VAT invoice. The first 13 points apply to almost every invoice; the numbers match the markers on the sample below.

PointRequisiteWhat to write
1Date of issueThe day the invoice is issued.
2Sequential numberA number in one or more series that identifies the invoice uniquely. It contains at least the running number of that document type (Cabinet Regulation No. 877, point 28).
3Supplier name and addressCompany name and registered address; for a natural person, name, surname and declared place of residence.
4Supplier VAT numberThe number in the Latvian VAT register, e.g. LV40000000001.
5Customer name and addressAs for the supplier: company name and registered address, or name and declared residence.
6Customer VAT numberThe Latvian or other EU VAT number, if the customer has one.
7Date of supplyWhen goods were delivered or the service performed, if it differs from the date of issue. On an advance invoice, the date the advance was received, if known and different.
8Description, quantity, unitFor each good or service.
9Unit price excluding VATThe value of one unit without tax.
10DiscountsAny discount not already taken off the unit price.
11VAT rateThe rate applied: 21%, 12%, 5% or 0%.
12VAT amountThe tax calculated.
13Total excluding VATThe amount the tax or exemption applies to. Amounts at different rates, and exempt amounts, are shown separately (Section 129(4)).

Sample invoice

An ordinary domestic invoice at 21% VAT. The numbered markers match the points of Section 125(1) in the table.

SIA “Parauga Serviss”
Invoice No. PS-2026/01422
Date of issue1
25/09/2026
Date of supply7
22/09/2026
Due date
09/10/2026
Supplier SIA “Parauga Serviss”3 Reg. No. 40000000001 VAT No. LV400000000014 Parauga iela 1, Rīga, LV-1010
Customer SIA “Parauga Klients”5 Reg. No. 40000000002 VAT No. LV400000000026 Parauga iela 2, Jelgava, LV-3001
Description8QtyUnitUnit price excl. VAT9VAT11Amount excl. VAT
Accounting software installation6h45.0021%270.00
Staff training2h60.0021%120.00
Total excl. VAT13
390.00 EUR
VAT 21%12
81.90 EUR
Total due
471.90 EUR
A specimen with made-up companies, numbers and amounts.

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Extra wording in special cases

Points 14 to 23 apply only when the transaction is special. Points 15 and 16 are the ones most businesses meet.

  • 14 The word “pašaprēķins” (self-billing) when the customer issues the invoice on the supplier’s behalf (Section 130).
  • 15 For a 0% rate or an exemption: a reference to the article of the VAT Act, the article of the VAT Directive, or another reference to the legal basis. VAT invoices
  • 16 The words “nodokļa apgrieztā maksāšana” (reverse charge) when the customer pays the VAT. VAT invoices
  • 17 For a new means of transport: a statement and the details proving it is new.
  • 18 The words “naudas līdzekļu uzskaite” (cash accounting) under Section 137.
  • 19 The words “peļņas daļas režīms ceļojumu aģentūrām” (margin scheme for travel agents, Section 136).
  • 20 For second-hand goods, works of art, collectors’ items and antiques: the matching margin scheme statement (Section 138).
  • 21 A reference to the article when the special rules of Sections 135, 139, 140.2, 140.4, 144 or 145 apply.
  • 22–23 The VAT number, name and address of an authorised person or fiscal representative who pays the tax.

VAT invoices by situation

If you are not registered for VAT

The invoice is still a source document for bookkeeping, just without VAT. Section 11(5) of the Accounting Act requires the document type (for example “Rēķins”, invoice), the date, a number, the issuer’s name and registration number or taxpayer code, details that identify the other party, a description of the transaction and its value in money.

Point 33 of Cabinet Regulation No. 877 adds, for goods and services, the unit and quantity, the unit price, the value, any discounts and the total including taxes, where there are any. No VAT rate or VAT amount is shown, because none is charged, and you have no VAT number to print.

Does an invoice need a signature?

Usually not. Section 11(7) of the Accounting Act accepts an unsigned invoice as an external source document when another legally valid document, such as a contract, evidences the transaction, or, for a private customer, an agreement with them. The law does not require the phrase “valid without a signature”.

Simplified invoices

Section 126 of the VAT Act lets a VAT-registered business issue a simplified invoice for a domestic transaction worth less than 150 euro excluding VAT, and for a document that amends an earlier invoice. It needs the date, both parties’ names, addresses and VAT numbers, the description and quantity, the price and total (with or without VAT) and the rate with the VAT amount.

A till receipt counts as a simplified invoice if a source document with the receipt’s date, number and the missing details is attached. Below 30 euro excluding VAT, the receipt may omit the customer’s details altogether.

Numbering

Each number must be unique and sequential within its series. Series may follow document types (Cabinet Regulation No. 877, point 27.1), and the business sets their prefixes in its own bookkeeping rules. A cancelled invoice is kept, not deleted: Section 129(6) of the VAT Act requires it to justify the skipped number.

When the invoice must be issued

  • As a rule, no later than the 15th day after the supply or the advance payment (VAT Act, Section 131(1)).
  • For goods shipped to another EU country and for services to EU businesses where the customer pays the VAT: by the 15th of the following month (Section 131(2)).
  • For transport of goods directly linked to an export: within 90 days (Section 131(4)).
  • A VAT-registered business issues a VAT invoice for an advance it receives, except an advance for goods shipped to another EU country (Section 127(1), point 2).
  • In the books, invoices are recorded within 20 days after the month ends; businesses with turnover up to 300,000 euro may use 15 days after the quarter ends (Accounting Act, Section 13).

Prices, rates and currency

The unit price is shown without VAT (Section 125(1), point 9), even if you agreed a VAT-inclusive price with the customer. When an invoice mixes rates, the amounts for each rate are shown separately.

An invoice may be in any currency, but the VAT payable must be stated in euro at the bookkeeping exchange rate in force at the start of the day of the transaction (VAT Act, Section 129(5)). The bookkeeping rate is the euro reference rate published by the European Central Bank (Accounting Act, Section 7(2)).

E-invoices: what is mandatory, and from when

An electronic VAT invoice, a PDF included, may be issued when the customer accepts that form (VAT Act, Section 132(1)). A structured e-invoice is something else: a machine-readable file under the LVS EN 16931-1 standard, such as Peppol BIS Billing 3.0.

Section 11(14) of the Accounting Act requires invoices to other companies registered in Latvia to be structured e-invoices. For public sector budget institutions this has applied since 1 January 2025 (for deals concluded by 31 December 2024, from 1 January 2026 at the latest). For all other businesses it applies from 1 January 2028, after the amendments of 5 June 2025. Till receipts and invoices from certain state systems are exempt.

Corrections and storage

A document that amends the original invoice and refers to it unambiguously counts as a VAT invoice (Section 125(5)). If the original was a structured e-invoice, the correcting invoice must be one too, referring to the corrected number (Cabinet Regulation No. 877, point 25.1).

VAT invoices are kept for five years from the date of issue (VAT Act, Section 133(4)), and the Accounting Act sets at least five years for source documents.

Frequently asked questions

What must an invoice contain in Latvia?

For a VAT-registered supplier: the date of issue, a unique sequential number, both parties’ names, addresses and VAT numbers, the date of supply if different, the description with quantity and unit, the unit price without VAT, discounts, the rate, the VAT amount and the total without VAT (VAT Act, Section 125(1)). Special cases add wording such as “nodokļa apgrieztā maksāšana”.

Do I need a VAT number on my invoice if I am not VAT registered?

No. Only registered businesses have a Latvian VAT number. Show your registration number or taxpayer code and charge no VAT; an invoice must not show VAT you are not entitled to collect.

Does a Latvian invoice need to be signed?

Usually not. Section 11(7) of the Accounting Act accepts an unsigned invoice when a contract or another legally valid document evidences the transaction, or an agreement with a private customer does.

How soon must I issue an invoice?

A VAT-registered business issues it no later than the 15th day after the supply. For goods to another EU country and services to EU businesses, the deadline is the 15th of the following month (VAT Act, Section 131).

Can there be gaps in invoice numbering?

Numbers must be unique and sequential within a series. If you cancel an invoice, keep it in your books: it is what explains the skipped number (VAT Act, Section 129(6)).

When do e-invoices become mandatory in Latvia?

Structured e-invoices to public sector budget institutions have been mandatory since 1 January 2025. Between businesses registered in Latvia they become mandatory on 1 January 2028 (Accounting Act, transitional provision 8).

Can I invoice in euro and another currency?

Yes. The amounts can be in any currency, but the VAT payable must also be stated in euro at the ECB reference rate in force at the start of the transaction day (VAT Act, Section 129(5); Accounting Act, Section 7).

How long must invoices be kept?

Five years from the date of issue (VAT Act, Section 133(4)), longer if the invoice supports an input VAT adjustment on real estate.

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