ABN Invoice Template (No GST)
An Australian invoice for a business that is not registered for GST — your ABN, no GST, and not headed tax invoice.
Details
abn invoice templateRed highlights mark what is still blank. Everything stays on this device.
| Invoice no. | [invoice no.] |
| Date issued | 25 September 2026 |
| Payment due | [date] |
| ABN | [your ABN] |
| Description | Qty | Unit price | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| [add one line per item — description | qty | unit price] | |||
| Total (no GST) | $ 0.00 |
No GST has been charged. [your business name] is not registered for GST.
Please quote the invoice number with your payment. If any line is disputed, tell us within seven days so it can be looked into before the due date.
What is an ABN Invoice (No GST)?
An ABN invoice is the invoice an Australian business sends when it is not registered for GST. It asks to be paid, it shows the ABN so the customer knows exactly who they are dealing with, and it charges no GST — because a business that is not registered cannot. It is not a tax invoice and should not call itself one: the ATO says a business that is not registered for GST should issue a standard invoice instead.
Sole traders, freelancers, contractors and small businesses under the GST registration threshold send this invoice. It is common in the first year of trading, for side businesses and for work that has grown into regular income. Customers call it an ABN invoice, an invoice without GST or a no-GST invoice; the name matters less than what is on it and what is left off.
What it leaves out is as important as what it includes. There is no GST amount, no line saying the total includes GST, and no tax invoice heading — any of those would suggest you are registered when you are not, and a GST-registered customer might try to claim a credit they are not entitled to. What it keeps is everything a customer needs to pay you and file the invoice: your name and ABN, the date, a number, what you supplied and the amount.
The ABN is doing real work here. A business that pays a supplier who has not quoted an ABN may have to withhold tax from the payment at the top rate, and some will simply hold the payment until one is supplied. Registering for GST becomes compulsory once your turnover reaches the ATO threshold, and taxi and ride-sourcing drivers must register whatever they earn, so check where you stand before the year gets busy. Once you register, switch to a tax invoice from your registration date.
What to put in an ABN Invoice (No GST)
These are the details this template asks for. Anything left blank is marked in red on the preview so you can see what is still missing.
| Field | What goes in it |
|---|---|
| Business name | For example: Barton Supply Co. |
| Your address | For example: Unit 7, Barton Road, Columbus, OH 43212 |
| Your ABN | For example: 53 004 085 616 |
| Customer name | For example: Halliwell Interiors Inc. |
| Customer address | For example: 44 High Street, Columbus, OH 43215 |
| Invoice no. | For example: INV-2026-1187 |
| Payment due | Free text |
| Items | One per line: Description | Qty | Unit price |
| Payment terms | For example: 30 days from invoice date |
| Payment details optional | For example: Barton Supply Co. |
How to write an ABN Invoice (No GST)
Head it Invoice, not Tax Invoice
Use the plain word invoice at the top. A tax invoice is a specific document that only a GST-registered business can issue, and the heading is one of the first things a customer's accounts team looks for. If you are not registered, keeping the heading plain is the simplest way to avoid giving the wrong impression.
Show your ABN and the name it is registered to
Put your ABN in full, with the name it belongs to — your own name if you trade as a sole trader, or your registered business name. Customers can check an ABN on the public register, and an invoice without one can be held up or paid with tax withheld. If you trade under a business name, use the one registered against your ABN.
Number and date every invoice
Give each invoice its own number and the date you issued it, and keep the sequence unbroken. It is how you and the customer refer to it, how you show what was billed and when, and how your records hold together at tax time. A payment due date turns a request into a deadline.
Price the work without GST
List each item or service with the quantity and the price, and total them. Do not add ten percent and do not describe the prices as GST inclusive — you are not charging GST at all. A clear line saying no GST has been charged because you are not registered answers the question before the customer has to ask it.
Say how you want to be paid
Give your bank details — account name, BSB and account number — or the payment method you accept, and ask the customer to quote the invoice number. Invoices that do not say how to pay are the ones that sit in an inbox. Keep a copy of every invoice you send; you will need them for your tax return.
Common mistakes
- Calling the document a tax invoice when the business is not registered for GST, which misstates your position to a customer who may try to claim a credit on it.
- Adding GST to the price, or writing that the total includes GST, when you are not registered and cannot charge it.
- Leaving the ABN off, so a business customer holds the payment or withholds tax from it at the top rate.
- Trading under a business name on the invoice that is not the one registered to your ABN, so the customer cannot match you on the register.
- Carrying on with ABN invoices after turnover has passed the registration threshold, instead of registering and moving to tax invoices.
Frequently asked questions
Can I send an invoice if I'm not registered for GST?
Yes. You send a normal invoice with your ABN and no GST. What you should not do is call it a tax invoice or add GST to the price — the ATO says a business that is not registered for GST should issue standard invoices, and only a registered business can charge GST.
What should an invoice without GST include?
Your name or business name, your ABN, the date, an invoice number, the customer's name, a description of what you supplied with quantities and prices, the total, a payment due date and how to pay. A short line saying no GST has been charged because you are not registered makes the position clear.
Do I have to put my ABN on an invoice?
It is strongly advisable. A business that pays you more than $75, excluding GST, without your ABN may have to withhold tax from the payment at the top rate, and many will not pay an invoice without one. Check the ATO's guidance on withholding if an ABN is not provided for the current rules.
When do I have to register for GST?
When your GST turnover reaches the registration threshold set by the ATO. Non-profit organisations have a higher threshold, and taxi and ride-sourcing drivers must register whatever they earn. Check the ATO's page on registering for GST for the current figures, and register within the time it allows once you pass the threshold.
Is an ABN invoice the same as a tax invoice?
No. A tax invoice comes from a GST-registered business and carries the details a buyer needs to claim a GST credit, including the GST amount. An ABN invoice comes from a business that is not registered, carries no GST and does not let the buyer claim anything. If you register for GST, use a tax invoice from your registration date.
This page explains general practice and is not legal advice. Requirements differ between countries and, in some cases, between states — check what applies where the document will be used.