How do you invoice without GST?
If you are not registered for GST, title the document “Invoice”, never “Tax Invoice”, and don’t add GST: the total is simply your price. Include your name, ABN, an invoice number, the date, what you did, the amount and how to pay. The template above is already set up that way.
The ATO is direct about the title: if you are not registered for GST, your invoices should not include the words “tax invoice”. There is no ATO checklist for a plain invoice, but business.gov.au recommends the details listed below. In the generator, a GST rate of 0% means no GST row is printed at all, so the PDF can’t be mistaken for a tax invoice showing $0 of GST.
No GST invoice example
Here is a complete invoice from a sole trader gardener who is not registered for GST. The subtotal and the total are the same number because no GST is added.
| Line | What goes on it |
|---|---|
| Title | INVOICE · INV-0042 |
| From | Your name or trading name · your 11-digit ABN · phone and email |
| Bill to | Client name and address |
| Dates | Issued 10 October 2026 · due 24 October 2026 (14 days) |
| Lawn mowing | 4 visits × $65 = $260.00 |
| Hedge trimming | 2.5 hours × $55 = $137.50 |
| Green waste removal | 1 × $40 = $40.00 |
| Total | $437.50 (no GST line) |
| Payment | BSB and account number, or PayID |
| Notes | No GST has been charged. [Business name] is not registered for GST. |
Three things to leave off: the words “Tax Invoice”, prices described as “inc. GST”, and a GST row. Gardeners who want trade-specific line items can start from the gardener invoice template; set GST to 0% there too.
Sending this same invoice to the same clients every month, then chasing the ones who forget to pay? That is the point where a free PDF stops being enough. InvoiceSonic, from the same team, saves your clients for reuse, and its Pro plan (A$19/month) repeats recurring invoices and sends automatic payment reminders. It also has GST fields ready for when you register.
Should you write “No GST has been charged” on the invoice?
It is optional. Neither the ATO nor business.gov.au lists it as a requirement for a business that isn’t registered for GST. It does stop clients asking where the GST is, and tells a registered client’s bookkeeper there is no GST credit to claim.
Put it in the Notes box of the template. Any of these wordings is clear:
- “No GST has been charged.”
- “[Business name] is not registered for GST.”
- “Not registered for GST. The total includes no GST.”
Can you charge GST if you are not registered?
No. If you are not registered for GST, and not required to be, GST is not included in the price of your sales. You can’t add a 10% GST line or call the document a tax invoice until your registration is in place.
If you think you should be charging GST because your income is close to $75,000, the fix is to register, not to start adding GST early. Once registered, switch to the tax invoice template. Our guide do I add GST to my invoice? walks through the common cases.
What happens when you cross the $75,000 GST threshold mid-year?
You must register for GST within 21 days of reaching the threshold, then start issuing tax invoices with 10% GST from your registration date. The ATO measures the threshold on a rolling 12-month basis, not by financial year, so you can cross it in any month.
Under the ATO registration rules, you reach the threshold when either:
- Current GST turnover (this month plus the previous 11) is $75,000 or more, or
- Projected GST turnover (this month plus the next 11) is likely to be $75,000 or more.
Worked example. Your income for the 12 months to 31 October is $71,200. November brings in $7,400, and November last year (which drops out of the window) was $3,100. Your current GST turnover at the end of November is $71,200 + $7,400 − $3,100 = $75,500. You have reached the threshold and have 21 days to register. The projected test can trigger it sooner: sign a contract that will clearly push the next 12 months past $75,000 and you must register even if the past year was lower.
The ATO says to check each month. If you are required to register and don’t, you may have to pay GST on sales made since the date you should have registered, even though you didn’t include GST in those prices, plus penalties and interest. Taxi and ride-sourcing drivers are different: they must register regardless of turnover, so a no-GST invoice is never right for that work (see the rideshare invoice template). More on the rolling calculation in our GST registration threshold guide.
| Your situation | What to send |
|---|---|
| Not registered, under $75,000 | Invoice, no GST (this template) |
| Reached $75,000, registration not yet effective | Register within 21 days; ask your tax agent how to price sales in the gap |
| Registered for GST | Tax invoice with 10% GST on taxable sales |
| Taxi or ride-sourcing driver | Must be registered: tax invoice |
Is a no-GST invoice the same as a GST-free sale?
No. A no-GST invoice comes from a business that is not registered, so nothing it sells carries GST. A GST-free sale is made by a registered business on specific items, such as most basic food, some medical and health services, some education courses and exports.
A registered business selling GST-free items still issues a tax invoice, and where the invoice mixes taxable and non-taxable items it must show which items are taxable. That is a different document with different rules; see tax invoice requirements in Australia. If you are not registered, none of that applies to you.
No GST invoice FAQs
Can I issue an invoice without GST in Australia?
Yes, if you are not registered for GST and not required to be. Title it Invoice, not Tax Invoice, and don’t add GST. The total is your price.
Do I still need an ABN on an invoice without GST?
Yes, if you are invoicing a business. GST registration and an ABN are separate. Without your ABN, a business client generally has to withhold 47% of the payment. The ABN invoice template explains the rules.
Should my invoice show GST as $0.00?
There is no need. Leaving the GST line off entirely is clearer, and it is what this template does when GST is set to 0%. Add a note saying no GST has been charged if you want to remove any doubt.
When do I have to start charging GST?
From the date your GST registration takes effect. You must register within 21 days of your current or projected GST turnover reaching $75,000, or straight away if you drive a taxi or for a ride-sourcing platform.
Can I backdate my GST registration?
You can ask the ATO to backdate it, by phoning its Business enquiries line. Backdating is generally limited to 4 years unless there is fraud or evasion.
This page is general information, not tax advice. For your situation, check the ATO or talk to a registered tax agent.
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