A dodgy invoice is a slow invoice. Missing your ABN, forgetting a due date, leaving off the GST line — any of it gives a customer an excuse to sit on your money, and some of it can land you in strife with the ATO. Here is exactly what belongs on a tradie invoice in Australia.
The legal must-haves (ATO tax invoice rules)
If you are registered for GST and the sale is $82.50 or more (inc GST), the ATO requires your document to be a proper tax invoice containing:
- The words "Tax invoice", clearly shown.
- Your business/trading name.
- Your ABN — non-negotiable (no ABN can mean the customer must withhold 47%).
- The date the invoice was issued.
- A description of the goods/services — what you did, quantities where relevant.
- The GST amount, or a statement that the total "includes GST".
- For sales over $1,000: the buyer's identity or ABN.
Free Invoice Generator
Fill in the job details and it builds a compliant, professional invoice — ABN, GST line, due date and all — ready to download and send. No template wrangling.
Open the free toolThe details that get you paid faster
These are not strictly required by law, but leaving them off is why invoices drag on for weeks:
- A unique invoice number — keeps your records straight and makes chasing easy.
- A clear due date — a specific date ("due 27 July 2026") beats vague terms like "on receipt."
- Payment details up front — BSB, account number, and any pay-by-card or link option, right where they can see it.
- An itemised breakdown — labour and materials split out builds trust and heads off "what am I paying for?" disputes.
- Your contact details — so a question becomes a quick call, not a reason to delay.
Payment terms: 7, 14 or 30 days?
The trend in trades is shorter terms. 7 or 14 days gets cash in the door faster and is now completely normal — you are a small business, not a bank. Reserve 30 days for larger commercial clients who expect it. Whatever you pick, put the actual due date on the invoice and send it the day the job's done; the longer you wait to invoice, the longer you wait to get paid.
When it still goes unpaid
Even a perfect invoice sometimes gets ignored. When that happens, a calm, structured follow-up gets you paid without torching the relationship — there is a whole guide on exactly how to do that below.
Frequently asked questions
For sales of $82.50 or more (including GST), a valid tax invoice must show: the words “Tax invoice”, your business name and ABN, the date, a description of what was supplied, the GST amount (or a statement that GST is included), and the buyer’s identity or ABN for sales over $1,000. These are the ATO requirements.
Yes. Your ABN must appear on every invoice. If you do not quote an ABN, the customer may be legally required to withhold 47% of the payment. It also looks unprofessional and can hold up payment.
No. Only businesses registered for GST charge it. If you are not registered you must not add GST, and your document is a regular invoice, not a “tax invoice.” Once you register (turnover of $75k+), you must issue tax invoices and charge 10% GST.
Common terms are 7, 14 or 30 days. Shorter terms (7–14 days) get you paid faster and are increasingly normal for trades. Whatever you choose, state a clear due date rather than just “payment on receipt” — a specific date is easier to enforce and chase.
Compliant invoices, sent in seconds
Admin Substitute generates ATO-compliant tax invoices with your ABN, GST and due date built in, tracks who has paid, and nudges the ones who haven’t — so you stop doing invoicing at 9pm.
30-day money-back guarantee · No lock-in contracts · 90% cheaper than hiring an admin