Free Template

Australian Invoice Template

This Australian invoice template has every field a business in Australia needs: your ABN, an optional 10% GST line, AUD totals, and BSB or PayID payment details. Use it as a regular invoice while you are not registered for GST, then switch the GST line on once you are, so one layout covers both.

Common services billed with this template

Typical use cases for the australian invoice template:

  • ✓ Sole traders and freelancers billing hourly or per project
  • ✓ Tradies: plumbing, electrical, carpentry, painting and building work
  • ✓ Consultants, accountants and legal professionals
  • ✓ Cleaning, gardening, removals and home maintenance
  • ✓ Creative and digital work: design, writing, photography and web development
  • ✓ Retail and wholesale goods sold to other Australian businesses

Typical line items

Fields you'll usually include on this invoice:

  • ✓ Business information at the top: your business name, ABN, phone number and email address
  • ✓ A unique invoice number and the date of issue
  • ✓ The client's name and address, plus their ABN when a taxable sale is $1,000 or more
  • ✓ A description of each job or product with quantity, unit price and line total
  • ✓ A 10% GST line if you are registered for GST, or no GST line if you are not
  • ✓ The total payable in AUD, the due date and your payment methods (BSB and account number, PayID, or a card link)

Standard Payment Terms

Pick terms you will actually enforce and print the due date on the invoice. Many sole traders use 7 or 14 days; larger business clients often set 30 days in their supplier terms. Commonwealth agencies have a published policy of paying correctly rendered invoices within 20 calendar days on contracts up to $1 million, so a complete, accurate invoice matters when you bill government.

Invoicing Tips

  • ✓ Quote your ABN on every invoice. If you do not, a business that pays you may have to withhold 47% for the ATO unless an exception applies.
  • ✓ Title the document "Invoice" if you are not registered for GST, and use the GST wording only once you are registered. They are different documents.
  • ✓ Registration for GST becomes compulsory when your GST turnover reaches $75,000 ($150,000 for non-profits). Below that, an invoice with no GST is correct.
  • ✓ Put the BSB, account name and account number on the invoice itself, not just in the email. Accounts teams pay from the document.
  • ✓ Keep a copy of each invoice for five years. The ATO record-keeping rules apply whether you use a Word file, a PDF or an app.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • ✓ Leaving off the ABN, which can trigger 47% withholding by the payer
  • ✓ Charging GST before you are registered for GST
  • ✓ Reusing or skipping invoice numbers, which makes your records hard to reconcile
  • ✓ Sending an invoice with no due date, so the client has no deadline to pay against
  • ✓ Leaving the currency unclear on work for overseas clients (state AUD or the foreign currency)

Frequently Asked Questions

What must be on an Australian invoice?

Your business name and ABN, the date, a unique invoice number, a description of what you supplied, and the total. If you are registered for GST, the document must also be identified as a tax invoice, show the GST amount or state that the total includes GST, and, for taxable sales of $1,000 or more, include the buyer's identity or ABN.

Can I use this template if I am not registered for GST?

Yes. Leave the GST line off and title the document "Invoice". You still quote your ABN. When you register for GST, switch the GST line on and the same template produces a tax invoice.

Is there a Word version of this template?

Yes. The Word and Excel versions use the same fields. Fill in the online version if you want the totals and GST calculated for you, then save it as a PDF.

What is the difference between an invoice and a tax invoice?

A tax invoice is the document a GST-registered business issues so the buyer can claim a GST credit. Any other request for payment is a regular invoice, and it is the right document when you are not registered for GST.

How do I invoice an overseas client from Australia?

Quote your ABN, state the currency, and describe the service. Many exports of goods and services are GST-free. You report the amount in AUD in your records using a consistent exchange rate.

Should I use accounting software instead of a template?

A template is enough for a handful of invoices a month. Once you need saved clients, payment tracking and reminders, an invoicing app saves time, and accounting software makes sense when your bookkeeper needs the ledger.

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