GST Tax Invoice Australia: What's Required (Free Template + Examples)

If you run a business in Australia and you’re registered for GST, you can’t just send any old invoice — you need to send a valid tax invoice. Get it wrong and your customer can’t claim their GST credit, and you can run into trouble with the ATO.

The good news: the rules are simple once you know them. Here’s exactly what a GST tax invoice needs in Australia, with a free template and examples.

What is a tax invoice?

A tax invoice is the document a GST-registered business issues for a taxable sale. It’s different from a plain invoice because it has to show GST and specific details, so the buyer can claim back the GST they paid.

If you’re not registered for GST, you don’t issue tax invoices at all — you send a regular invoice and don’t charge GST.

What a valid GST tax invoice must include

For a sale of less than $1,000, a tax invoice must show:

1. The words “Tax Invoice”
2. The seller’s identity (your business or trading name)
3. Your ABN
4. The date the invoice was issued
5. A brief description of the items sold, including quantity and price
6. The GST amount payable — or a statement such as “Total price includes GST”
7. The total amount payable

For a sale of $1,000 or more, you also need:

8. The buyer’s identity or ABN

That’s it. Seven details for most jobs, eight for larger ones.

The thresholds that matter

• $82.50 (inc. GST): Below this, you don’t have to issue a tax invoice unless the customer asks. Above it, you must provide one within 28 days of being asked.
• $1,000: At or above this, the invoice must also identify the buyer.
• $75,000/year turnover: This is when GST registration becomes mandatory. Below it, registration is optional — and if you’re not registered, none of the “tax invoice” rules apply to you.

Example: a compliant tax invoice

TAX INVOICE

Smith Auto Repairs
ABN: 12 345 678 901
Invoice #1042 · 24 June 2026

Bill to: John Citizen

Brake pad replacement (front)      $220.00
Oil & filter service               $120.00
                       Subtotal     $340.00
                       GST (10%)     $34.00
                       Total        $374.00

Total price includes GST.

Every required field is there: “Tax Invoice”, business name, ABN, date, description, GST amount, and total.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Leaving off the ABN. Without it, the customer may have to withhold 47% of the payment. Always include it.
• Forgetting the words “Tax Invoice”. It’s a literal requirement, not optional wording.
• Calculating GST wrong. GST is 10%. On a $340 subtotal that’s $34. Doing this by hand across dozens of invoices is where errors creep in.
• Not keeping copies. You need your tax invoices come tax time and if the ATO ever asks.

Get a free GST tax invoice template — or skip it entirely

You can copy the example above into a Word or Google Docs template and fill it in each time. But you’ll still be calculating GST by hand, chasing your ABN, and keeping track of copies yourself.

A faster option: Spanner creates compliant GST tax invoices automatically. Set your ABN once and it appears on every invoice. Toggle GST on and the 10% is calculated for you. The “Tax Invoice” label, date, totals — all handled. Then share via WhatsApp, email or PDF in one tap, and attach a card payment link so customers can pay on the spot.

It’s free to start, works from your phone, and means you never have to think about whether your invoice is compliant again.

Quick checklist

• ☐ “Tax Invoice” appears on the document
• ☐ Business name + ABN shown
• ☐ Date issued
• ☐ Description of goods/services
• ☐ GST amount (or “includes GST”)
• ☐ Total payable
• ☐ Buyer’s details (for sales $1,000+)

Tick all of these and your tax invoice is ATO-compliant — every time.