Accounting and invoicing for drone pilots
Aerial images for property, inspection of roofs and installations, event videos and surveying: drone pilots sell flight time, material and processing and have costs for insurance, permits and batteries. Saldiqo writes invoices by job, records insurance and equipment and shows per client what a job brings.
What comes up for drone pilots
Job and processing
The flight is one part, evaluation, editing and delivery of the data another.
Insurance and permits
Liability insurance, flight permits and registration are running costs.
Expensive equipment
Drones, cameras and batteries cost money and wear out.
How Saldiqo helps
- Invoice by jobFlight time, travel and processing as lines.
- Record insurance and permitsReceipts with due dates.
- Match paymentsUpload the bank statement.
Typical invoice lines
Examples that often appear on invoices in this industry. You set the prices yourself.
- Drone flight property, photo and video
- Roof inspection with report
- Aerial event video, 3 hours
- Processing and editing, hours
- Travel as per receipt
- Permit fee re-invoiced as per receipt
Tax and invoicing in Cyprus
What applies to invoices in Cyprus, in short. As of October 2026.
- VAT
- Rates 19 %, 9 %, 5 % and 3 %, plus 0 % until 31 December 2026 for infant milk, nappies, hygiene products and fresh fruit and vegetables.
- VAT registration
- The threshold is €15,600 of taxable turnover over 12 months, or expected within the next 30 days. If you sell services to businesses in other EU countries, you generally register from the first sale. Until you are registered, Saldiqo leaves VAT off and adds up your turnover.
- What goes on an invoice
- Even businesses that are not VAT registered must issue invoices and receipts. Companies show their name, HE number, the words “private company” where they apply, and their registered office. Notes such as reverse charge appear in Greek and English.
- Invoice timing
- Issue invoices within 30 days.
- E-invoicing
- There is no mandate. Public bodies accept e-invoices (Peppol BIS 3.0) and suppliers send them voluntarily. EU rules follow from 1 July 2030.
- VAT returns
- VAT4 returns are filed online through TFA, quarterly with staggered periods, by the 10th of the second month after the period, moved to the next working day if it falls on a weekend. Saldiqo does not file returns.
- Record keeping
- Plan for 10 years. The minimum is 6 years, VAT records can need up to 7 years, and OSS records 10 years.
- Late payment
- Interest on late business payments is 10.40 %, plus €40 compensation between businesses.
- Languages
- Use Saldiqo in Greek or English and send invoices in either language.
Frequently asked questions
How do I bill permits?
You record the fee as an expense and re-invoice it as a line if agreed.
Can I depreciate the drone?
In Germany Saldiqo keeps an asset register. For other countries you record the purchase as an expense and clear depreciation with your tax adviser.
Do drone pilots in Cyprus have to charge VAT?
Once they are registered, yes. The threshold is €15,600 over 12 months, or expected within 30 days. Services to businesses in other EU countries require registration from the first sale.
Do drone pilots in Cyprus need e-invoicing?
No. Public bodies accept e-invoices through Peppol and suppliers use it voluntarily. EU rules follow from July 2030, so PDF invoices remain fine today.
How long should drone pilots keep invoices?
Plan for 10 years: the minimum is 6 years, VAT records can need up to 7 and OSS records 10. You can store receipts digitally in Saldiqo. The legal duty to keep records stays with you.
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As of October 2026. General information, not legal or tax advice, without guarantee. For your case ask your tax adviser.