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InvoiceMate Guide · Australia · GST Invoicing · 6 min read

How to create a GST invoice in Australia

A practical guide to creating GST-ready tax invoices in Australia, including ABN, GST, $82.50 and 28-day tax invoice rules.

If your business is registered for GST in Australia, your invoice usually needs to be a tax invoice, not just a payment request. A good GST invoice helps your customer understand what they are paying for, helps you track income, and gives both sides a cleaner record for BAS and tax time.

GST invoice app for Australian sole trader showing client, invoice date, line items, GST and total fields
Create a GST-ready invoice with client details, line items and totals in InvoiceMate.

When do you need to issue a tax invoice?

According to business.gov.au, GST-registered businesses use tax invoices. A tax invoice is required for a taxable sale over $82.50 including GST, and when a customer asks for one you generally have 28 days to provide it.

For many small businesses, the practical approach is simple: if you are GST-registered, use a tax invoice format by default. It keeps your records consistent and reduces confusion for customers.

Step-by-step: creating a GST invoice

  1. Add your business details. Include your business name, ABN, contact details and payment details.
  2. Use the words Tax Invoice. If GST applies, the document should clearly identify itself as a tax invoice.
  3. Add the invoice date and invoice number. These make the record easier to track later.
  4. Add the customer and line items. Include a clear description, quantity and price for each service or product.
  5. Review GST and totals. Check subtotal, GST amount and total before sending.
  6. Preview and send the PDF. A final review catches missing details before the customer receives the invoice.
InvoiceMate GST summary showing subtotal, GST amount and total amount
Review subtotal, GST and total before sending your invoice.

What to check before sending

Before sending a GST invoice, check that the customer can understand the work, price, GST treatment and payment instructions without asking follow-up questions. If the sale is $1,000 or more, the ATO says the buyer's identity or ABN also needs to be included.

Australian tax invoice app showing PDF preview with Tax Invoice title, ABN, GST amount and total amount
Preview a professional tax invoice PDF before sharing it with your customer.

Create GST-ready invoices from your phone

InvoiceMate helps Australian small businesses create invoices with saved business details, GST fields, PDF preview and payment status tracking.

Explore the GST invoice app

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Sources

This article is general information only and is not tax advice.