Australian Tax Invoice Template (Free)

What the GST law says a tax invoice must show

Section 29-70 of the GST Act sets out what makes a document a tax invoice. It doesn't prescribe a layout, only that these details can be clearly worked out from it. Here they are, with where each goes in this template:

The GST Act requires	In this template
it can be clearly ascertained that the document was intended to be a tax invoice	The title “Tax invoice”, printed in place of “Invoice”
the supplier's identity and the supplier's ABN	Your name and Tax ID (“ABN 00 000 000 000”)
if the total price is at least $1,000: the recipient's identity or ABN	Client name, and their ABN in Client tax ID
what is supplied, including the quantity (if applicable) and the price	Line descriptions, quantity and price
the extent to which each supply is a taxable supply	A note: “All items on this invoice are taxable sales.”
the date the document is issued	Invoice date
the amount of GST (if any) payable	The “GST (10%)” line in the totals

Sources: A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999, sections 9-70, 29-70 and 29-80, and the GST Regulations 2019, sections 23-15.01 and 29-80.01. The ATO explains the same rules in plain English on its tax invoices page. This page is a guide, not tax advice; check with the ATO or your adviser for your case.

Filling it in

The title is set to “Tax invoice”. Keep it whenever you charge GST: it's how the document shows it is intended to be a tax invoice. Signed in, set it once in your sender profile and every new invoice gets it.
Your ABN goes in Tax ID with its label, as you want it printed: “ABN 00 000 000 000”. It prints with your details: in the footer band on Classic and Bold, under your address on Minimal.
The customer's ABN goes in Client tax ID. It's required once the total reaches $1,000, and harmless below that.
GST is set to 10% and the tax line is named GST. The editor adds it on top of your prices and shows the amount in the totals.
Payment: your BSB and account number, with the invoice number as the reference. Add a payment link if you take cards.

Limits worth knowing

The editor applies one tax rate to the whole invoice. If a sale mixes taxable and GST-free items, put the GST-free ones on a separate invoice with the tax at 0, so each invoice says plainly what is taxable.

When a customer asks for a tax invoice, you have 28 days to give it to them, unless the sale was $82.50 or less including GST. If you're not registered for GST, you can't charge it: leave the title as “Invoice” and the tax at 0. You must register once your GST turnover reaches $75,000 a year.

Questions

When do I have to give a tax invoice?

When you're registered for GST and a customer asks for one for a taxable sale, you must give it within 28 days. Sales of $82.50 or less including GST ($75 before GST) don't need one. Your GST-registered customers need a tax invoice to claim their GST credits, so most businesses send one every time.

What if I'm not registered for GST?

Then don't add GST and don't call it a tax invoice: leave the title as “Invoice” and the tax at 0. Registration is required once your GST turnover reaches $75,000 a year. The freelance invoice template is a better start.

Does a tax invoice need the customer's ABN?

Only when the total price is $1,000 or more: then it must show the buyer's identity or ABN. Showing both, as this template does, covers either way.

Can one invoice have GST-free and taxable items?

Not in this editor: it applies one GST rate to the whole invoice. The law asks a tax invoice to show the extent to which each sale is taxable, so put GST-free items on a separate invoice with the tax at 0.

My prices include GST. What do I enter?

The editor adds GST on top of the prices you enter. If you quoted a GST-inclusive price, enter it divided by 1.1: $110 including GST is $100 plus $10 GST.