Tax Invoice Template (Australia)
An Australian tax invoice carrying the ABN, the GST treatment and the seven details the ATO expects.
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| Invoice no. | [invoice no.] |
| Date issued | 14 October 2026 |
| Payment due | [date] |
| ABN | [your ABN] |
| Description | Qty | Unit price | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| [add one line per item — description | qty | unit price] | |||
| Total price | $ 0.00 | ||
| GST included in this total | $ 0.00 |
Total price includes 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 a Tax Invoice (Australia)?
An Australian tax invoice is the document that lets a GST-registered buyer claim back the GST on what they bought from you. Without one that carries the right details, the buyer cannot claim the credit, and they will send the invoice back rather than absorb the cost. That is why the format matters more here than for an ordinary invoice: the invoice is not just a request for payment, it is the buyer's evidence to the ATO.
You issue a tax invoice when you are registered for GST and you make a taxable sale. If you are not registered, you must not issue a document calling itself a tax invoice or show a GST amount — an invoice is still fine, but it is a plain invoice. Registration is required above the turnover threshold set by the ATO and is optional below it, with a separate lower threshold and different rules for taxi and ride-sourcing drivers. Check the current threshold before deciding.
The detail required depends on the value. For a sale under one thousand dollars an Australian tax invoice is generally expected to show: the words tax invoice, the seller's identity, the seller's ABN, the date it was issued, a description of what was sold with quantity and price, the GST amount or the statement that the total price includes GST, and enough information to show which items are taxable. At one thousand dollars and above, the buyer's identity or ABN is added. Confirm the current ATO guidance rather than relying on a format you were sent.
A tax invoice is not a receipt and not a statement. It also is not the only shape this document takes: a recipient-created tax invoice, where the buyer raises it, is permitted in some industries under a written agreement between the parties, and agents may issue invoices on a principal's behalf. Mixed sales, where some lines carry GST and some do not, need the taxable extent shown clearly, which is the requirement people most often miss.
What to put in a Tax Invoice (Australia)
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 |
| Buyer ABN or identity (needed at $1,000 and over) optional | For example: 29 002 589 460 |
| Invoice no. | For example: INV-2026-1187 |
| Payment due | Free text |
| GST treatment | Free text |
| Which items are GST-free or input taxed optional | For example: Line 3 (basic food) is GST-free. |
| 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 a Tax Invoice (Australia)
Put the words tax invoice at the top
Not invoice, not statement, not bill. The phrase itself is part of what the document is expected to carry, and a buyer's accounts system may reject anything else. If you issue both — plain invoices when you are not making a taxable sale and tax invoices when you are — keep the two clearly distinct rather than using one template and hoping.
Show your ABN, and check it is current
The ABN identifies you and lets the buyer verify you are registered for GST. Buyers can and do check it against the public register, and a buyer dealing with a supplier who has no valid ABN may have to withhold tax from the payment at the top rate. Print the ABN in full on every invoice rather than only on your letterhead footer.
Make the GST position unambiguous
Where every line is taxable, the simplest compliant form is to show the total and the words that the total price includes GST. Where the GST amount is shown separately, it is normally one eleventh of a GST-inclusive price. Where only some lines are taxable, say which ones — a buyer cannot work out the taxable extent from a single blended total, and neither can the ATO.
Add the buyer at one thousand dollars and over
Above that threshold the invoice is expected to identify the buyer, by name and address or by ABN. Below it, you do not have to, though naming the buyer is good practice anyway because it makes the invoice matchable. Watch for an invoice that creeps over the threshold when a line is added late; the buyer detail has to go on before it is issued.
Describe each line so the sale can be identified
Give the description, the quantity and the price for each item or service. A single line reading services rendered gives the buyer nothing to match against a purchase order and gives their accountant nothing to categorise. Add your invoice number, the date issued and the payment terms, and give bank details with the reference you want quoted.
Common mistakes
- Calling a document a tax invoice while not being registered for GST, which misstates the tax position and has to be corrected.
- Omitting the ABN, which can force the buyer to withhold tax from the payment and will usually get the invoice returned.
- Showing GST as ten percent of a GST-inclusive total instead of one eleventh, which overstates the tax by a consistent margin.
- Blending taxable and GST-free lines into one total with no indication of which is which, so the buyer cannot substantiate the credit.
- Crossing the one thousand dollar threshold without adding the buyer's identity or ABN, which makes the invoice insufficient for the buyer's claim.
Frequently asked questions
What has to be on an Australian tax invoice?
For sales under one thousand dollars, generally: the words tax invoice, your identity, your ABN, the date issued, a description of what was sold with quantity and price, the GST amount or a statement that the total includes GST, and which items are taxable. At one thousand dollars and over, add the buyer's identity or ABN. The ATO publishes the current requirements and worked examples — check them for your situation.
How do I calculate GST on a tax invoice?
Where the price already includes GST, the GST component is one eleventh of the total. Where you are adding GST to a net price, it is ten percent of that price. The common error is taking ten percent of a GST-inclusive figure, which produces a number that is too high and will not reconcile with the total. Do the division rather than the multiplication when the price is inclusive.
Can I issue a tax invoice without an ABN?
No. The ABN is one of the details a tax invoice is expected to carry, and issuing one without it leaves the buyer unable to substantiate a credit. There is also a practical consequence: a business paying a supplier who has not quoted an ABN may be required to withhold tax from the payment. Apply for an ABN before you start invoicing businesses.
Do I need to be registered for GST to charge it?
Yes, and the reverse also holds — you must not charge GST if you are not registered. Registration is compulsory once your turnover reaches the ATO threshold, and voluntary below it. If you register voluntarily you take on the obligation to charge GST, lodge activity statements and keep the records that go with them. Weigh that against the credits you would be able to claim.
What is a recipient-created tax invoice?
It is a tax invoice raised by the buyer rather than the seller, which is allowed in particular circumstances where the buyer is better placed to know the value — agricultural sales and some commission arrangements, for example. It requires a written agreement between the two parties and both must be registered for GST. Check the ATO conditions before using one, because the arrangement is specific rather than general.
How do I invoice in Australia if I'm not registered for GST?
Send a plain invoice with your ABN and no GST, and leave the words tax invoice off it — the ATO says a business that is not registered for GST should issue standard invoices. The ABN Invoice (No GST) template on this site is laid out that way.
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.