Australian Tax Invoice Template
Australia sets its own rules for what an invoice must contain and how GST appears on it — including what the document has to be called, which is a compliance requirement and not a matter of style. This template handles both: pick your rate and the lines, the wording and the arithmetic follow.
What Australian Taxation Office requires on the document
7 things have to appear before this counts as a tax invoice in Australia. The one people miss most often is the title itself — the document must carry the words “Tax invoice”, not “Invoice”.
- The words “Tax invoice”
- Your identity — business or trading name
- Your ABN
- The date the invoice was issued
- A description of the items sold, including quantity and price
- The GST amount, or a statement that the total price includes GST
- The extent to which each sale is taxable
Verified against Australian Taxation Office on 2026-09-11.
The $1,000 line, and what changes above it
Australia's tax invoice requirements step up at $1,000, and the addition is easy to miss because nothing about the document looks different until someone tries to claim on it.
- Under $1,000: your identity, your ABN, the date, a description, the GST amount or a statement that the total includes GST.
- $1,000 or more: all of that, plus the buyer's identity or their ABN.
- The threshold is on the GST-exclusive value of the supply, not the total you invoice.
A business client cannot claim a GST credit on a $1,000-plus invoice that does not identify them, so the invoice comes back and payment waits.
GST-free is not the same as input-taxed
Two categories both result in no GST on the line, and they are not interchangeable — the difference decides whether you can claim GST back on what you bought to make the supply.
- GST-free: basic food, most medical and educational supplies, exports. You charge no GST and still claim credits on your inputs.
- Input-taxed: residential rent and most financial supplies. You charge no GST and cannot claim credits on related inputs.
- Show either as a line at 0% with the reason named, rather than leaving it off the invoice.
If you are not registered for GST at all, that is a third case again: issue a plain invoice with no GST line and do not call it a tax invoice.
GST registration and the value thresholds
The rules below only bite past a certain amount, which is what makes them easy to miss — an invoice that was fine last month becomes non-compliant the first time it crosses the line.
- Invoices of $1,000 or more must also show the buyer's identity or ABN.
- GST registration is compulsory once turnover reaches $75,000, or $150,000 for a non-profit.
- For taxi and ride-share work, registration is compulsory from the first dollar.
GST rates
Pick the rate matching what you supply. The generator applies it as a named line, which is how a client's accounts team expects to see it.
| Applies to | GST | Combined | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard rate | GST 10% | 10% | |
| GST-free supplies | No tax line | — | Basic food, most medical and educational supplies, some exports. |
| Not registered | No tax line | — | Turnover under $75,000 and not voluntarily registered. |
Note: Rates shown for Australia, checked against Australian Taxation Office on . Tax rates change by legislation, not on a schedule — confirm yours before sending an invoice.
Sources
The requirements on this page come from the authorities that set them. Rules change — check the source before relying on it.
- Tax invoices — Australian Taxation Office
- Applying for an ABN — Australian Business Register
Frequently asked questions
What GST rate should I charge in Australia?
GST 10%. Choose the one matching what you supply; the generator adds the line and does the arithmetic.
Do I need a abn to invoice?
You can invoice without one, but you cannot charge GST without being registered. GST registration is compulsory once turnover reaches $75,000, or $150,000 for a non-profit.
Is a PDF invoice valid in Australia?
Yes. Australia places no format requirement on an invoice — it must contain the required information, not arrive in a particular file type. Keep a copy for your records for as long as your authority requires.
Can I use this template if I am not registered for tax?
Yes, and you should not show a tax line at all. Charging GST while unregistered is an offence in most jurisdictions. Pick the "no tax" option and the line is omitted rather than shown as zero, which is a different statement.
Does the invoice have to be in a specific currency?
The generator defaults to AUD for Australia, which is what a domestic client expects. You can invoice in another currency for an overseas client — just state the currency clearly so there is no ambiguity about what is owed.
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