Sage and CSV imports
Sage Business Cloud Accounting (formerly Sage One) allows you to import purchase invoices as quick entries via CSV. This can save significant time compared to entering each invoice manually through the web interface.
However, creating the CSV in the correct format requires knowing exactly which columns Sage expects and how the data should be structured.
The Sage CSV format
Sage expects purchase invoices in this format:
| Type | Date | Contact Name | Reference | Ledger Account | Details | Net | Tax Rate | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inv | 21/02/2026 | Acme Ltd | INV-001 | Office Equipment (7100) | Printer paper | 45.00 | 20.00% | 54.00 |
Key requirements: - Type must be "Inv" for invoices or "Crn" for credit notes - Date format is DD/MM/YYYY - Ledger Account should match an existing nominal code in your Sage chart of accounts - Net is the amount before VAT - Tax Rate should match a VAT rate configured in Sage (typically 20.00%, 5.00%, or 0.00%) - Total is the VAT-inclusive amount
Converting PDF invoices for Sage
- Sign in to InvoiceCSV
- Upload your PDF invoice
- Check the extracted data
- Select Sage from the dropdown
- Download the CSV
- In Sage, go to Purchases > Quick Entries > Import
- Upload and confirm
VAT handling
InvoiceCSV extracts the VAT amount from your PDF invoice and calculates the correct net and total figures. For standard-rated UK invoices, the tax rate is set to 20.00%. If your invoice has mixed VAT rates across line items, each line will have its own rate.
Works with Sage 50 too
While InvoiceCSV is optimised for Sage Business Cloud, the CSV output is also compatible with Sage 50 Accounts' import function. The column structure is the same — just use the CSV import wizard in Sage 50 and map the columns.
Pricing
5 free conversions per month. Starter (£19/month) for 200 invoices. Pro (£49/month) for 1,000.