From 1 January 2021 you need to use the XI code when invoicing for goods which fall under the Northern Ireland protocol. Therefore in Sage 50 Accounts, you need to update your country in company preferences and also include it on invoices when communicating with customers in the EU.
Change the country in company preferences
- Click Settings then click Company Preferences.
- If prompted enter your Password and click OK.
- Click the Country drop-down and click Northern Ireland XI.
- Click OK.
Update your invoice layout to show the new code
For each of these options you have the choice to show both VAT registration numbers on your invoice, or alternatively have two layouts, one to use for goods under the Northern Ireland protocol, and one for services, and goods not under the protocol.
Option 1 - If your VAT Registration number is added to you invoice layout as a text field
For example, if your invoice has a text field for the VAT Registration number as follows:
- VAT registration number: GB123456789
For a single invoice layout, add a second line for the Northern Ireland protocol number:
If you are using a separate invoice layout for the Northern Ireland protocol invoices, replace the existing text, for example:
- VAT registration number (Northern Ireland protocol): XI123456789
To find out how to update text on a layout, read more >
Option 2 - If you use variables to show your VAT registration number
If you use the two variables for the country code and the VAT registration number to show your VAT registration number on your invoice layout, you can update the country code variable for the Northern Ireland protocol.
To use a single layout:
Copy the existing VAT registration number onto a second line, and rename it VAT registration number (Northern Ireland protocol), this will print XI as the prefix.
On the original VAT registration number entry, change the Country_Code variable to Country_Code_Converted. This then prints a prefix of GB rather than XI.
This means you will then have both the GB and XI VAT registration numbers on the invoice layout.
To use two layouts:
- Northern Ireland protocol layout - use your existing layout - this now prints XI as the prefix.
- Non Northern Ireland protocol layout - copy your layout and change the Country_Code variable to Country_Code_Converted. This then prints a prefix of GB rather than XI.
EC sales list - continue to produce a EC Sales list for Goods only. To do this use the tax code T4 for the sale of goods, and the tax code T0 for the sale of services.
Intrastat - continue to produce Intrastat reports as you always have done so.