Australian Tax Invoice Template: Requirements & Free Generator

A GST-registered business that leaves out the words Tax Invoice, its ABN or the GST amount gives its buyer a document they may not be able to claim credits on. A valid Australian tax invoice shows those, plus the date, a description of what was sold and the total, and the buyer’s details from

,000. Create one free below in AUD, no signup, and download the PDF.

What an Australian invoice must include

Must include	Detail
“Tax Invoice”	The document must be clearly labelled as a tax invoice
Your ABN	Your Australian Business Number and business name
The date	When the invoice was issued
Line items	A description of each item or service sold
GST	The GST amount, or “Total includes GST”
Total	The total price payable
Buyer details	Required when the sale is A$1,000 or more

GST, the ABN and the A$1,000 rule

Only businesses registered for GST issue “tax invoices” and charge GST, which is 10%. You must register for GST once your turnover reaches A$75,000 (A$150,000 for non-profits). Below that, you can issue a plain invoice (not a “tax invoice”) with no GST. For any sale of A$1,000 or more, the tax invoice must also identify the buyer (name or ABN).

Why the ABN matters

Quote your ABN on every invoice. If you don’t, the business paying you may be required to withhold 47% of the payment under the “no-ABN withholding” rule.

Create your Australia invoice free

Our free invoice generator runs in your browser: set the currency to AUD ($), add your details and items, and download a clean PDF. No signup, no watermark. Prefer a file? Grab a free invoice template, or see an invoice example.

Create an Australian invoice →

Invoicing in another country?

• UK invoice requirements
• Canada invoice requirements

This is general information, not tax or legal advice. Rules and thresholds change, so confirm the current requirements with ATO.

Last updated October 2026. General information, not tax or legal advice. GST thresholds and rules change, so confirm the current position with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).

When do you have to give a tax invoice?

If you are registered for GST and a sale is more than $82.50 including GST, you must give the buyer a tax invoice when they ask for one. The ATO expects you to provide it within 28 days of the request. For sales of $82.50 or less you do not have to issue one, though many businesses still do. Keep a copy of every tax invoice you issue.

Tax invoice, invoice or receipt: which do you need?

Document	Who issues it	What it shows
Tax Invoice	A business registered for GST	The words Tax Invoice, ABN, GST amount or an inclusive statement
Invoice	A business not registered for GST	The same layout, with no GST charged and no Tax Invoice label
Receipt	Either, after payment	Proof the payment was received. See invoice vs receipt

What does a tax invoice look like?

The business, buyer, ABN and amounts are made up for illustration.

Detail	Example
Title	TAX INVOICE
Supplier	Willow Creek Design, 14 Park Street, Brisbane QLD 4000. ABN 12 345 678 901
Buyer	Redgum Coffee Pty Ltd, ABN 98 765 432 109
Invoice number and date	INV-2026-014, 01/10/2026
Payment terms	Net 14. Pay by bank transfer to BSB 123-456, account 12345678, quoting the invoice number

Description	Amount
Brand design, three concepts and one final	$1,200.00
GST (10%)	$120.00
Total payable (includes GST)	$1,320.00

Because the total is $1,000 or more, the invoice also shows the buyer’s ABN.

How do you show GST-free and taxable items together?

If an invoice mixes taxable items with GST-free ones, it must clearly show which items are taxable. A common approach is to mark taxable lines with an asterisk and add a note that the asterisk means the item includes GST.

Description	GST	Amount
Catering platters*	$10.00	$110.00
Bread rolls (GST-free)	$0.00	$40.00
Total payable	$10.00	$150.00

* This item includes GST. The GST-free items shown are examples, so check how the ATO treats what you sell.

What if you are not registered for GST?

Issue a plain Invoice. Do not write Tax Invoice, do not charge GST and do not show a GST line. Still quote your ABN. If your turnover reaches $75,000, or $150,000 for non-profits, you must register and switch to tax invoices. Some businesses, such as taxi and rideshare drivers, must register regardless of turnover.

What is an ABN and how do you check one?

An Australian Business Number is an 11-digit number, usually written in groups such as 12 345 678 901. An ACN, for companies, has 9 digits. Before you invoice a business, you can look up its ABN on the official ABN Lookup to confirm the name and whether it is registered for GST.

How should you set out payment details?

Put your BSB and account number, or a PayID, near the total. Some businesses also accept BPAY, which needs a biller code and reference. Use the Australian date format, day then month then year, to avoid confusion, and state a clear due date. See what Net 30 means if you are choosing terms.

How do you correct a tax invoice?

If you issue a tax invoice with the wrong amount, or the sale changes later, issue an adjustment note that refers to the original. It plays the same role as a credit note. See what a credit note is and the credit note template.

How long should you keep tax invoices?

The ATO generally requires business records, including tax invoices you issue and receive, to be kept for five years. Keep them in a form you can read and produce on request.

Which Australian invoice mistakes cause trouble?

• Writing Tax Invoice when you are not registered for GST.
• Leaving out the ABN, which can lead to 47% withholding.
• Not showing the GST amount or an inclusive statement.
• No buyer details on a sale of $1,000 or more.
• Mixing GST-free and taxable items with no marking.
• Changing the amount after issuing, with no adjustment note.

New to invoicing? Read how to write an invoice or price a job first with the quote template.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need an ABN to invoice in Australia?

You can invoice without one, but the payer may have to withhold 47% of the payment. In practice you should quote an ABN on every invoice.

What is the GST rate in Australia?

GST is 10%. You only charge it if you’re registered for GST, which is required once turnover reaches A$75,000.

Do I have to write “Tax Invoice” on it?

Yes, if you’re GST-registered the document must be clearly labelled “Tax Invoice”. If you’re not registered, issue a plain “Invoice” with no GST.

When do I need the buyer’s details?

For any sale of A$1,000 or more, the tax invoice must show the buyer’s identity or ABN.

How do I make a tax invoice in Australia?

Label the document Tax Invoice, add your name and ABN, the date, a description of each item, the GST amount or the words Total includes GST, and the total. For sales of $1,000 or more, add the buyer’s identity or ABN.

What must be on a tax invoice in Australia?

The words Tax Invoice, the seller’s identity and ABN, the date of issue, a description of what was sold with quantity and price, the GST amount or an inclusive statement, and for $1,000 or more the buyer’s identity or ABN.

Do I have to give a tax invoice for a small sale?

If you are GST-registered, you must provide one on request for sales over $82.50 including GST. For $82.50 or less you do not have to issue one.

How long do I keep tax invoices in Australia?

The ATO generally requires business records, including tax invoices, to be kept for five years.

Can ChatGPT generate an invoice for me?

A chatbot can draft wording, but a form-based generator keeps the layout and totals correct. Check the ABN, the GST amount and the Tax Invoice label before you send it.

Written by the FreeBillKit team. Last reviewed October 2026.