An Australian tax invoice must show that it's a tax invoice, your business name and ABN, the date, what you sold (with quantity and price), the GST or "Total price includes GST", and which items are taxable. From $1,000, add the buyer's name or ABN. Make one free in your browser.
If you're registered for GST, a tax invoice needs the details below. A customer can ask for one for any sale over $82.50 (incl. GST), and you have 28 days to provide it.
| Requirement | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| The words "Tax Invoice" | Mandatory header. Without it, it's not a tax invoice — it's just a bill. |
| Your business name & ABN | Required for the buyer to claim GST credits. |
| Date of issue | Determines the BAS period for both parties. |
| Buyer's identity (or ABN if >$1,000) | Mandatory for invoices over $1,000. |
| Description of goods or services | Quantity + unit, enough detail that the ATO could audit it. |
| GST amount (10%) shown separately | Or a statement that "Total price includes GST". |
| Total amount payable (incl. GST) | The grand total your client pays. |
| Unique invoice number | Good practice, but not one of the ATO's required details. Sequential numbers keep your records easy to follow. |
Source: ATO — Tax invoices (updated 18 Sep 2026). See a worked plumbing invoice over $1,000, or read how to invoice as a sole trader.
Here's exactly what your invoice should look like — every required field labelled.
Mick's Electrical Services
ABN 12 345 678 901
Pay to: Mick's Electrical · BSB 062-000 · Acct 1234 5678
Fill in your details in the browser and download a PDF tax invoice. Good for one-offs. Slow for repeat work.
Make a free PDFOpen Invoice Better → tap a saved client → tap saved line items → send. GST auto-calculated. PAID stamp included. Done in 30 seconds.
Get The App FreeABN field, BSB + Account, 10% GST, "Tax Invoice" header, AUD currency — every field pre-set the way the ATO wants it.
The template above covers every requirement the Australian Taxation Office sets out for a tax invoice. To use it correctly:
If you're registered for GST and the invoice is for more than $82.50 including GST, your client can request a tax invoice and you have 28 days to provide one. If you're not registered for GST (turnover under $75,000), you issue a regular invoice — no GST line, no "Tax Invoice" header.
The single biggest reason tradies wait 30+ days to get paid is that they don't invoice from the job site. Every day you delay, the average payment time goes up by ~1 day. The fix isn't a better template — it's invoicing on the spot.
Templates solve the format problem. They don't solve the speed problem. Invoice Better is built around one number: 30 seconds from "job done" to "invoice sent". You save your common jobs to the smart price list, you save your clients once, and the GST/ABN/BSB stays put. From the ute, you tap-tap-tap-send. No internet required.
If you want to compare it against the other apps tradies usually consider, we have a brutally honest comparison of Invoice Better vs Tradify, ServiceM8, Billdu, Sole and Xero.
Real questions Australian tradies and sole traders ask before switching invoicing apps.
An Australian GST tax invoice must show: the words 'Tax Invoice', the seller's name and ABN, the date of issue, a description of the goods or services, the GST amount (10%) separately or a statement that the total includes GST, and the total amount payable. For invoices over $1,000, you must also include the buyer's identity or ABN.
No. The ATO only requires a formal tax invoice for sales of more than $82.50 (including GST). For smaller amounts you can issue a regular receipt, but a compliant tax invoice is still good practice — and Invoice Better generates one automatically regardless of size.
Only if you're registered for GST. If you're not registered, your invoice should not include the words 'Tax Invoice' or a GST amount. Doing so can mislead clients and trigger ATO compliance issues.
You can either list GST as a separate 10% line item under the subtotal, or include a statement saying 'Total price includes GST'. The first method is clearer and is the format Invoice Better uses by default.
You must register for GST once your GST turnover reaches $75,000 a year, or when you expect it to in your first year. Below that, registering is optional. If you're not registered, don't add GST or call your invoice a tax invoice. Source: ATO, Registering for GST.
If your price doesn't include GST, the GST is 10% of it, so multiply by 1.1 for the total. If your price already includes GST, the GST is the total divided by 11. For example, $1,836 plus 10% GST is $2,019.60, and $2,019.60 divided by 11 is $183.60 of GST.
Yes. Each tax invoice must have a unique, sequential number. Re-using or skipping numbers creates problems with your BAS reconciliation and looks unprofessional. Invoice Better auto-increments invoice numbers for you.
Absolutely. PDF is the standard format. The ATO accepts electronic tax invoices delivered by email, AirDrop, messaging app, or any other method, as long as all required fields are present.
Most users send their first invoice in under 60 seconds, and repeat invoices in under 30 seconds. Save your clients and price list once, then it's three taps: pick client, pick items, send.
Yes — the free plan uses the full ATO-compliant tax invoice format. Free: up to 3 clients, 5 invoices sent a month and 3 saved price-list items. Starter packs are free and don't count toward the 3 items. Premium unlocks unlimited clients, invoices and saved price-list items, your own logo and no Invoice Better footer for A$7.99/month, A$59.99/year, or A$79.99 once for a lifetime licence, as listed on the Australian App Store.
If you're carrying on an enterprise in Australia, you should have an ABN — if you don't, the buyer is legally required to withhold 47% of payment. The template (and Invoice Better) supports both ABN and ABN-less modes, but we strongly recommend registering for an ABN: it's free at abr.gov.au.
A tax invoice is the specific document the ATO requires from a GST-registered business when selling more than $82.50. It must include the words 'Tax Invoice' and show GST. A regular invoice is for non-GST-registered businesses and doesn't include GST or the 'Tax Invoice' header.
Free: up to 3 clients, 5 invoices sent a month and 3 saved price-list items. No card. No account needed to invoice.
Premium A$7.99/mo · A$59.99/yr · A$79.99 lifetime