What is an ABN invoice template?
An ABN invoice template is an invoice layout with a place for your 11-digit Australian Business Number, so clients can see who you are and pay you without withholding tax. The one above starts as a plain “Invoice” with no GST, because most people searching for it have an ABN but are not yet registered for GST. Two changes turn it into a tax invoice when you are.
What must an ABN invoice include?
An ABN invoice should show your name, your ABN, the issue date, what you supplied and the price. If you are registered for GST it must also be titled “Tax Invoice” and show the GST. If you are not registered, title it “Invoice” and leave GST off.
The ATO sets the minimum for tax invoices. For a plain invoice there is no legal checklist, but business.gov.au recommends the same core details plus an invoice number and how you want to be paid.
| Field | ABN invoice (not GST-registered) | Tax invoice (GST-registered) |
|---|---|---|
| Title | “Invoice”. Must not say “Tax Invoice” | “Tax Invoice” |
| Your name and ABN | Yes | Required |
| Issue date | Yes | Required |
| Description, quantity, price | Yes | Required |
| GST amount | No GST | Required (or “Total price includes GST”) |
| Buyer’s identity or ABN | Recommended | Required for sales of $1,000 or more |
| Invoice number, due date, BSB or PayID | Recommended | Recommended |
ABN invoice example: what does one look like?
Here is the same freelance copywriter invoicing twice: once before registering for GST and once after. The only differences are the title, the GST line and the buyer’s details on the larger invoice.
| Line | Example A: not registered | Example B: GST-registered |
|---|---|---|
| Title | INVOICE | TAX INVOICE |
| From | Your name · your 11-digit ABN | Your name · your 11-digit ABN |
| Bill to | Client business name | Client business name and ABN |
| Items | 3 blog articles × $250 = $750 1 hour edits × $90 = $90 | Website copy project × 1 = $1,200 |
| Subtotal | $840.00 | $1,200.00 |
| GST | Not shown | GST (10%) $120.00 |
| Total | $840.00 | $1,320.00 |
Example B is over $1,000, so the ATO requires the buyer’s identity or ABN on it. If you had quoted the client $1,320 including GST instead, tick Prices include GST, enter $1,320, and the GST shown is one-eleventh: $120 (the GST calculator does the same sum). In Example A the GST rate stays at 0%, and the GST line is left off the PDF entirely. For more layouts by job type, see our Australian invoice examples.
How do you invoice with an ABN, step by step?
Confirm your ABN is active, choose “Invoice” or “Tax Invoice” based on your GST status, fill in the details, then download and send the PDF. It takes about two minutes in the template above.
- Check your ABN and GST statusSearch your ABN on ABN Lookup. It shows whether the ABN is active and whether you are registered for GST.
- Pick the titleNot registered: leave it as INVOICE with GST at 0%. Registered and making a taxable sale: change it to TAX INVOICE and set GST to 10%.
- Add your details and the client’sYour name or business name, ABN, email and address. Add the client’s business name, and their ABN for a tax invoice of $1,000 or more.
- Number and date itUse a unique, sequential number. See how to number invoices if you are starting from scratch.
- List the workOne line per job or item, with quantity and rate. The totals calculate as you type.
- Set payment terms and detailsA due date plus your BSB and account number or PayID. Our guide to invoice payment terms covers 7, 14 and 30-day options.
- Download, send and file itEmail the PDF to the client and save your own copy. Business records generally need to be kept for at least 5 years.
ABN invoice vs tax invoice: what’s the difference?
Every tax invoice carries an ABN, but not every ABN invoice is a tax invoice. A tax invoice is issued by a GST-registered business for a taxable sale and lets a registered buyer claim the GST back. If you have an ABN but are not registered for GST, the ATO says your invoices should not include the words “tax invoice”.
Switch to a tax invoice from the date your GST registration takes effect. You must register within 21 days of your GST turnover reaching the $75,000 threshold, and taxi and ride-sourcing drivers must register regardless of turnover. Once registered, a customer who asks for a tax invoice must get one within 28 days, unless the sale is $82.50 or less including GST. Read how the $75,000 GST threshold works, or use the tax invoice template, which starts with GST on. Not registered and want the no-GST wording spelled out? The no GST invoice template covers that case in detail.
What happens if you invoice without an ABN?
If you supply a business and don’t quote an ABN, that business generally has to withhold 47% of the payment and send it to the ATO. On Example A’s $840 invoice, that means the client pays you $445.20 and withholds $394.80.
The ATO lists exceptions where no-ABN withholding does not apply, including payments of $75 or less (excluding GST), genuine hobbies, supplies of a wholly private or domestic nature, and individuals under 18 paid no more than $350 a week. A payer can also withhold 47% if it has reasonable grounds to believe the ABN you quoted is invalid or belongs to someone else, so check yours is typed correctly. Registering for an ABN is free through the Australian Business Register. More detail: do I need an ABN to invoice?
Where do you find or check an ABN?
Use ABN Lookup at abr.business.gov.au. You can search by ABN, ACN or name, and the record shows whether the ABN is active or cancelled and its GST status.
Look up your own ABN before your first invoice to confirm the GST status you should be invoicing under. It is also worth looking up a new client’s ABN before you put it on a tax invoice of $1,000 or more.
ABN invoice template in Word or Excel, or an online generator?
If you would rather keep invoices in your own files, download the free ABN invoice template in Word (.docx) or Excel (.xlsx). Both are titled INVOICE with your ABN under your name and no GST, and the Excel version calculates the totals. Registered for GST? Use the tax invoice template downloads instead.
With a Word file you still type the totals yourself and copy last month’s invoice each time. The generator above calculates the totals, remembers your business details and ABN in your browser, and gives you a clean PDF in a couple of minutes.
| Word / Excel template | This free generator | |
|---|---|---|
| GST and totals | Typed or formula-based; easy to break | Calculated for you |
| Your ABN and details | Retyped or copied each time | Saved in your browser |
| Output | Needs exporting to PDF | PDF in one click |
| Works offline in your own files | Yes | Needs a browser; PDFs are yours to keep |
| Cost | Free if you own Office | Free, no signup |
Either way, keep your own records. Save every PDF to one folder per financial year, named by invoice number, so you can find any invoice in seconds when a client or your tax agent asks.
Copying the same invoice for the same clients every month, then checking your bank to see who has paid? That is usually when a free PDF stops being enough. InvoiceSonic, from the same team, saves your clients and their details, and its Pro plan (A$19/month) adds recurring invoices, automatic reminders and invoice open tracking. There is a free plan to try it first.
ABN invoice FAQs
Do I need to put my ABN on an invoice?
If you are invoicing a business, yes in practice. Without your ABN on the invoice or another document, the business generally has to withhold 47% of the payment. A GST-registered business must also show its ABN on every tax invoice.
Can I use an ABN invoice template if I am not registered for GST?
Yes. Title the document Invoice, not Tax Invoice, and leave GST at 0%. That is how the template above starts. You only add 10% GST once your GST registration is in place.
Do I need my client’s ABN on my invoice?
For a tax invoice of $1,000 or more, the ATO requires the buyer’s identity or ABN. Below $1,000, or on a plain invoice from a business that is not GST-registered, the client’s name is enough, though adding their ABN does no harm.
Is an ABN invoice the same as a tax invoice?
No. A tax invoice is a specific document for GST-registered businesses making taxable sales. An ABN invoice from a business that is not registered for GST is a standard invoice and must not be called a tax invoice.
How long do I need to keep copies of my invoices?
Most business records must be kept for at least 5 years. Save a PDF of every invoice you send, in printed or electronic form.
This page is general information, not tax advice. For your situation, check the ATO or talk to a registered tax agent.
Create your ABN invoice now
Your ABN up top, GST off or 10%, free PDF. Check the details before you send.