The free invoice generator built for Australian businesses
This generator starts with AUD, a Tax Invoice heading, 10% GST, an ABN field and space for BSB or PayID payment details. The live checklist prompts you for common tax invoice fields. You must still check your ABN, the GST treatment of each supply and the finished PDF before sending it.
What makes a valid tax invoice in Australia?
The Australian Taxation Office requires that a tax invoice for a sale of less than $1,000 contains seven pieces of information:
- The words "Tax Invoice" — clearly showing the document is intended as one.
- Your identity — your business or trading name.
- Your ABN — your 11-digit Australian Business Number.
- The date the invoice was issued.
- A brief description of the items sold, including quantity and price.
- The GST amount payable — shown separately, or as the statement "Total price includes GST" where GST is exactly one-eleventh of the total.
- The extent to which each sale is taxable — which items include GST.
For sales of $1,000 or more, the tax invoice must also show the buyer's identity or ABN. The checklist flags this when the total reaches $1,000. It checks the ABN number format and checksum, but does not verify that the number belongs to your business or determine whether a sale is GST-free or input-taxed.
Full details are on the ATO's tax invoices page and business.gov.au's invoicing guide.
Invoice vs tax invoice: which one should you issue?
The difference comes down to GST registration:
- Registered for GST? For a taxable sale, issue a Tax Invoice with the GST amount shown. Some supplies are GST-free or input-taxed, so check the treatment before setting the rate. GST-registered customers generally need a valid tax invoice to claim credits on purchases over $82.50.
- Not registered for GST? Issue a regular Invoice — change the title field from "Tax Invoice" to "Invoice", set the GST rate to 0, and don't charge GST. Check the ATO's current and projected turnover rules; taxi and ride-sourcing drivers have a separate registration requirement regardless of turnover.
Either way, quote your ABN. If you invoice another business without one, the payer can be required to withhold 47% of the payment under the ATO's "No ABN withholding" rules — a painful way to learn that ABNs are free to obtain from the Australian Business Register. More detail: do I need an ABN to invoice.
| Tax Invoice | Regular Invoice | |
|---|---|---|
| Who issues it | GST-registered businesses | Businesses not registered for GST |
| Title on the document | "Tax Invoice" | "Invoice" |
| Shows 10% GST | Yes | No |
| Needs your ABN | Yes | Recommended |
| Lets buyer claim GST credit | Yes | No |
| GST registration | Required when registered | Do not show GST if unregistered |
GST-inclusive vs GST-exclusive pricing
Australian businesses commonly quote prices two ways, and this generator supports both:
- GST-exclusive (default): your rates are before GST, and 10% is added on top. A $100 line becomes $110 total.
- GST-inclusive: tick Prices include GST and your rates already contain GST. The generator shows the GST component as one-eleventh of the price — so a $110 line shows $10 GST — which satisfies the ATO's requirement to display the GST amount.
Getting paid: BSB, account number and PayID
Most Australian invoices are settled by bank transfer, so make paying frictionless. In the Payment Details box include:
- Bank name, BSB and account number — the traditional transfer details every accounts team expects.
- PayID — your email, mobile number or ABN linked to your bank account through the New Payments Platform. PayID transfers usually arrive in under a minute, even between different banks.
- Payment terms — a clear due date. For small businesses, 7 or 14-day terms get you paid noticeably faster than Net 30.
How to invoice as a sole trader, tradie or freelancer
If you're a sole trader, your invoice needs are simple but the details matter:
- Use your own name or registered business name in the From field, with your ABN directly beneath it.
- Describe the work specifically — "Bathroom renovation: labour, 16 hrs @ $95" beats "work done". Specific line items get approved and paid faster, and they protect you in a dispute.
- Number invoices sequentially (INV-0001, INV-0002…) and keep copies — the ATO requires you to keep records for five years. This tool auto-increments the number each time you click New Invoice.
- Not GST-registered yet? Title it "Invoice", set GST to 0, and keep an eye on the $75,000 registration threshold as you grow.
- Charging a deposit? Record it in Amount Paid so the invoice shows the remaining balance due.
Invoicing under your own name? There's a dedicated sole trader invoice generator with the same ATO checklist, plus guides on invoicing as a sole trader and the $75,000 GST threshold.
An invoice generator Australia trades and freelancers can rely on
Whatever you do, the invoice generator Australia businesses reach for should fit how you actually bill. A few common cases:
- Tradies & construction: itemise labour and materials separately, add progress-payment deposits, and show GST clearly — see how to write an invoice.
- Rideshare & taxi drivers: GST registration applies regardless of turnover. Check whether the platform issues the trip tax invoice on your behalf before creating another one.
- Consultants & freelancers: set clear payment terms and chase late payers early — here's how to chase overdue invoices.
Need to quote first, or confirm a payment? Use the free quote generator and receipt generator, or work out the tax with the GST calculator.
Worked Australian tax invoice example
Suppose a GST-registered consultant bills a taxable $1,000 project fee. Enter one line, “Project advice — September 2026”, quantity 1, rate $1,000. With GST-exclusive prices, the editor shows $100 GST and a $1,100 total. Because the sale is at least $1,000, include the buyer's identity or ABN. If the $1,100 price was already GST-inclusive, tick Prices include GST and enter $1,100 instead; the GST component remains $100.
| Field | Example entry | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Heading and seller | Tax Invoice · your legal or trading name · ABN | Identifies the GST-registered supplier |
| Buyer | Client business name or ABN | Required for this $1,100 sale |
| Description | Project advice — September 2026 | Shows what was supplied |
| Amount | $1,000 + $100 GST = $1,100 | Makes the GST amount clear |
| Payment | Due date and BSB/account or PayID | Tells the client how and when to pay |
Check before sending: a green checklist confirms only that fields are populated and an ABN passes its number checksum. It cannot check your GST registration, whether a supply is taxable, whether the ABN belongs to you, or whether the client details are correct. The ATO tax invoice guide is the authority for those decisions.
Why Australians use this generator
Live field checklist
See prompts for common tax invoice fields, including the $1,000 buyer-identity rule. Review the finished document yourself before sending.
GST done right
10% GST by default, with proper GST-inclusive pricing that shows the one-eleventh GST component the ATO expects.
Australian by default
AUD, "Tax Invoice" title, ABN field, and BSB/PayID payment details — no fighting a US-centric form.
Free PDF download
No signup, no watermark, no ads, no invoice limit. Download as many tax invoices as you need.
Private by design
Your ABN, client details and amounts never leave your browser — the PDF is generated on your device.
Remembers your details
Business details, ABN and settings are saved locally, so your next invoice takes seconds.
Sending tax invoices to the same clients every month? For repeat billing, payment tracking and automatic late-payment reminders, try InvoiceSonic — the free invoicing app from the same team.
Australian invoicing FAQs
Is this invoice generator ATO compliant?
The generator provides fields for common ATO tax invoice requirements, including your ABN, GST amount and buyer identity for sales of $1,000 or more. A completed invoice is only valid if the details you enter are correct and the GST treatment fits your sale. Check the finished PDF against the ATO rules before sending.
Do I need to charge GST on my invoices?
Only if you're registered for GST. Registration becomes mandatory once your GST turnover reaches $75,000 a year. If you're not registered, issue a regular invoice (not a tax invoice) and don't add GST — change the title and set the GST rate to zero.
Can I invoice without an ABN?
You can, but if you don't quote an ABN when invoicing another business, the payer may be required to withhold 47% of your payment. ABNs are free through the Australian Business Register, so it's rarely worth going without one.
What's the difference between an invoice and a tax invoice?
A tax invoice meets the ATO's GST requirements so a GST-registered buyer can claim GST credits. If you're not registered for GST, you issue a regular invoice titled "Invoice" with no GST shown.
How do I show GST-inclusive prices?
Tick Prices include GST in the settings panel. The GST component is calculated as one-eleventh of the price and shown separately, which satisfies the ATO requirement to display the GST amount.
When does my client's ABN need to be on the invoice?
For sales of $1,000 or more, the tax invoice must include the buyer's identity or ABN. The compliance checklist flags this automatically when your invoice total crosses $1,000.
How long do I need to keep invoices?
The ATO requires business records, including invoices, to be kept for five years. Download the PDF of every invoice you issue and store copies somewhere safe.
Is this really free? What's the catch?
No catch. No signup, no watermark, no ads, no invoice limits, and your data stays in your browser. It's the invoice generator we wished existed, so we built it.
This page is general information, not tax advice. For your specific situation, check the ATO or talk to a registered tax agent.
Create your tax invoice now
GST-ready, free PDF download. Review your details before sending.