What Does an Invoice Look Like?
An invoice is a structured document that requests payment and records a sale. Below is the anatomy of a professional invoice — and what changes when it's an Australian tax invoice — with a labelled example you can copy.
Written by InvoiceSonic Editorial Team · Updated 5 June 2026
The anatomy of an invoice
- Header — the word "Invoice" (or "Tax Invoice"), your logo and a unique invoice number
- Your details — business name, ABN, address and contact info
- Client details — who the invoice is billed to
- Dates — the issue date and the payment due date
- Line items — a description, quantity, unit price and amount for each
- Totals — subtotal, GST (if any) and the total due
- Payment details — how and when to pay (bank/BSB or payment link)
What a tax invoice looks like (Australia)
A tax invoice looks much like a regular invoice, with a few required additions: the words "Tax Invoice", your ABN, and the GST amount shown clearly (or a statement that the total includes GST). For sales over $1,000 it must also show the buyer's identity or ABN.
Your Business Pty Ltd
ABN 12 345 678 901
TAX INVOICE
#INV-0001
Bill to
Client Name
Issue date
05 Jun 2026
Due date
19 Jun 2026
Australian tax invoice requirements
A valid Australian tax invoice must show the words “Tax Invoice”, your business name and ABN, the date of issue, a description of the goods or services, the GST amount (or a statement that the total includes GST), and the total price. For sales over $1,000 you must also include the buyer’s identity or ABN.
- Register for GST once your turnover reaches $75,000 per year — see ATO: Registering for GST.
- Without an ABN, the payer must withhold 47% of the payment under PAYG rules (ATO: PAYG withholding). Apply for a free ABN at abr.gov.au.
- Full rules: ATO: Tax invoices.
Or use our invoice generator to start from scratch.
FAQ
What's the difference between an invoice and a tax invoice?
A tax invoice is issued by a GST-registered business and must show the words "Tax Invoice", your ABN and the GST amount. A regular invoice has no GST and isn't labelled "Tax Invoice".
Does an invoice need a logo?
No — a logo is optional. What matters are the required fields: your business name and ABN, the client, dates, line items, totals and payment details. A logo just makes it look more professional.
What should a simple invoice include?
At minimum: the word "Invoice", a unique number, your business name and ABN, the client's details, the date, a description of what you supplied, the total, and how to pay.