Invoice generator (Australia)
Australia has one of the more prescriptive invoice formats: the term tax invoice has a specific meaning, and the document must carry particular fields for your customer to claim a GST credit.
This generator produces compliant tax invoices in Australian dollars.
What an Australian tax invoice must show
- The words Tax invoice.
- Your identity and your ABN.
- The date the invoice was issued.
- A brief description of the items sold, including quantity and price.
- The GST amount payable, or a statement that the total includes GST.
- The extent to which each sale includes GST, where not all items are taxable.
For sales of $1,000 or more, the buyer's identity or ABN must also appear. That threshold is a frequent oversight on larger invoices.
GST and registration
GST is a broad-based tax applied at a single rate to most goods and services. Registration is required once turnover reaches the ATO threshold, and is optional below it.
If you are not registered you must not charge GST, and your document should be headed Invoice rather than Tax invoice — that distinction is meaningful in Australia, not merely stylistic.
Why the ABN matters so much
If you do not quote an ABN on an invoice, the payer may be required to withhold a substantial portion of the payment and remit it to the ATO.
That makes a missing ABN an immediate cash problem rather than a paperwork issue. Registered businesses should ensure it appears on every invoice.
GST-free and input-taxed supplies
Some supplies are GST-free — certain foods, medical services and exports among them. Others are input-taxed, such as residential rent and some financial supplies.
The difference matters for what you can claim back on your own purchases, so where an invoice mixes taxable and non-taxable items, show clearly which lines include GST.
Frequently asked questions
What must an Australian tax invoice include?
The words Tax invoice, your identity and ABN, the date issued, a description of items with quantity and price, and the GST amount or a statement that the total includes GST. For sales of $1,000 or more, the buyer's identity or ABN is also required.
What happens if I do not include my ABN?
The payer may be required to withhold a substantial portion of the payment and remit it to the ATO. A missing ABN is an immediate cash-flow problem, not just a paperwork issue.
Can I issue a tax invoice if I am not registered for GST?
No. If you are not registered you must not charge GST, and the document should be headed Invoice rather than Tax invoice.
What is the difference between GST-free and input-taxed?
GST-free supplies are taxable at zero and you can still claim credits on related purchases. Input-taxed supplies carry no GST and you generally cannot claim credits on related purchases.
When must the buyer's details appear?
For taxable sales of $1,000 or more, the invoice must show the buyer's identity or ABN. This is commonly overlooked on larger invoices.