Free Invoice Templates
for Australian Businesses
Five ATO-compliant tax invoice templates in Word (.docx) and print-ready formats, including a non-GST version for sole traders. No signup required: pick a template and start invoicing.
Choose your template
Every template includes ABN and business-identity fields and meets ATO tax invoice requirements. Download as Word (.docx), which also opens in Google Docs, or use the print-ready version and save it as a PDF.
Standard Tax Invoice
A clean, ATO-compliant tax invoice with GST line items, ABN, and payment terms. Works for any GST-registered Australian business.
Best for: General businesses
Tradie Invoice (Materials + Labour)
Built for tradespeople: separate labour and materials lines, call-out fee, plus job/site address and work-completed date fields.
Best for: Plumbers, electricians, builders
Freelancer / Sole Trader Invoice
Streamlined tax invoice with a project reference, hourly-rate lines, and milestone or revision rows for project work.
Best for: Consultants, designers, developers
Service / Retainer Invoice
For ongoing services and monthly retainers: billing period, agreement reference, retainer line, and an overage-hours row.
Best for: IT support, agencies, commercial cleaning
Non-GST Invoice (ABN Only)
For sole traders and small businesses not registered for GST: headed "Invoice" (not "Tax Invoice"), no GST anywhere, with the required no-GST statement.
Best for: Sole traders under the $75,000 GST threshold
Skip the editing
The free online invoice generator fills in the same ATO-compliant layout in your browser, calculates GST for you, and downloads a finished PDF. No template editing, no signup.
Open the free invoice generatorThe ATO invoice template: 7 required elements
The ATO does not publish a downloadable invoice template. Instead it publishes the rules: for a tax invoice to be valid, it must show seven pieces of information. Every GST template on this page is built around that list, so whichever layout you pick, the compliance boxes are already there to fill in:
- 1. The words “Tax Invoice” (or wording that makes clear the document is intended as one).
- 2. Your identity: your business or trading name.
- 3. Your ABN. Without it, business customers may be required to withhold 47% of the payment.
- 4. The date of issue.
- 5. A description of each sale, including the quantity where applicable.
- 6. The GST amount, shown as its own line, or a statement such as “total price includes GST” when GST is exactly one-eleventh of the total.
- 7. The extent to which each sale is taxable, so mixed invoices make clear which lines carry GST and which are GST-free.
Two thresholds to remember. For any sale of $1,000 or more (including GST), the tax invoice must also show the buyer’s identity or ABN; the templates include a field for it. And on a sale of more than $82.50 (including GST), you must give the customer a tax invoice within 28 days if they ask for one. At exactly $82.50 there is no obligation. The full rules, with a worked checklist, are in our guide to tax invoice requirements in Australia.
The GST formula
If you’re registered for GST (compulsory once your turnover reaches $75,000, or $150,000 for not-for-profits), apply the flat 10% rate to each line:
- GST = GST-exclusive amount ÷ 10
- Total (inc. GST) = GST-exclusive amount × 1.1
- Removing GST from a GST-inclusive price = price ÷ 11
Worked example
A tradie invoices $1,000 (ex-GST) for a job, say $600 labour and $400 in materials. GST is $1,000 ÷ 10 = $100. The invoice shows a $1,000 subtotal, $100 GST, and a $1,100 total payable. If the customer instead agreed a $1,100 GST-inclusive price, the GST already inside it is $1,100 ÷ 11 = $100.
Authoritative source: ATO: Tax invoices (what a valid tax invoice must include).
Not registered for GST? Use the non-GST invoice template
Plenty of sole traders sit under the $75,000 GST registration threshold: a side business, the first year of freelancing, a weekend lawn-mowing run. If that’s you and you have not voluntarily registered, your invoices follow different rules, and using a standard tax invoice template is actually a mistake.
- Head it “Invoice”, not “Tax Invoice”. Only GST-registered businesses issue tax invoices.
- Do not charge GST. A business that is not registered for GST must not add 10% to its prices or show a GST line.
- State that no GST applies. The template carries the wording “No GST has been charged. [Your business name] is not registered for GST.”
- Still quote your ABN. Without an ABN on the invoice, business customers may have to withhold 47% of your payment.
The non-GST template above handles all four points, in Word and print-ready formats. If your turnover is approaching the threshold, estimate your position with the sole trader tax calculator and read the GST registration section of our tax invoice requirements guide. Once you register, switch to any of the tax invoice templates on this page and start charging GST from your registration date.
Which invoice template should you use?
What each template includes and when to reach for it.
Standard tax invoice template
The default choice for any GST-registered business. It carries the seven ATO-required elements out of the box: the words “Tax Invoice”, your business name and ABN, the date of issue, itemised descriptions with quantities, a 10% GST line, and a statement that the total includes GST. The layout finishes with a subtotal, GST and total payable, then payment details (BSB, account and PayID) and payment terms. Two things to check before you send it: if the sale is $1,000 or more including GST, fill in the buyer’s identity or ABN field, and if a customer asks for a tax invoice on a sale of more than $82.50 including GST, you must issue one within 28 days. Use the GST calculator to double-check your GST line.
Tradie invoice template (materials + labour)
Trade jobs get queried when a customer cannot see what they paid for, so this template splits the bill into labour lines (hours at your rate), a call-out fee, and separate materials lines. It also adds a job/site address field and a work-completed date, which insurers, property managers and strata committees routinely ask for. GST applies to both labour and materials at the same 10% rate, so the template totals everything into one subtotal, one GST line and one amount payable. If you price jobs before you invoice them, the tradie quote calculator works out materials, labour, markup and GST so the quote and the final invoice line up.
Freelancer / sole trader invoice template
Made for project-based work: a project or purchase-order reference at the top, hourly-rate lines (for example, 4 hours at $120/hr), and rows for fixed-price milestones or revision rounds. Sole traders invoice under their own ABN, and the template includes the ABN field the ATO requires; without an ABN on the invoice, business customers may have to withhold 47% of the payment. This version assumes you are registered for GST. If your turnover is under $75,000 and you have not registered, use the non-GST template below instead. Not sure what your rate needs to be to cover tax and unbillable time? The hourly rate calculator works backwards from your income goal.
Service / retainer invoice template
For ongoing agreements billed on a cycle: IT support, marketing retainers, bookkeeping, gardening rounds and commercial cleaning contracts. It adds two fields the one-off templates do not have: a billing period (for example, 1-31 July) so the client can see exactly which month they are paying for, and an agreement or contract reference. The line items show the fixed retainer plus an overage row for hours above the retainer cap, and GST is calculated across the lot. Keep the invoice number sequential across periods so your records stay audit-ready. If you bill the same clients every month, the OneBookPlus invoicing feature can raise and email these automatically instead of you editing a document each cycle.
Non-GST invoice template (ABN only)
If you are not registered for GST, your invoices must look different in three ways, and this template handles all of them. It is headed “Invoice” rather than “Tax Invoice”, it shows no GST line in the totals, and it carries the statement “No GST has been charged. [Your business name] is not registered for GST.” You still show your ABN, itemised descriptions, the date, an invoice number and payment details. Do not add 10% to your prices: a business that is not registered for GST must not charge it. Check where you stand with the sole trader tax calculator, and verify any ABN with the ABN lookup tool.
What's included in every template
Every template is built to meet Australian tax invoice requirements out of the box.
GST Calculation Line
Automatic 10% GST breakdown with subtotal, GST amount, and total inc. GST (the non-GST template swaps this for the required no-GST statement).
ABN & Business Details
Designated fields for your ABN, business name, address, and contact information.
Payment Terms & Bank Details
Pre-formatted sections for payment due dates, BSB/account number, and PayID.
Word, PDF & Print-Ready HTML
Each template downloads as a Word (.docx) file that also opens in Google Docs, plus a print-ready web version you can save as PDF.
ATO-Compliant Layout
Meets all ATO requirements for tax invoices including the 7 mandatory elements.
Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know about invoice requirements in Australia.
- Do these templates meet the ATO tax invoice requirements?
- Yes, every template on this page is laid out around the 7 elements the ATO requires: (1) that the document is intended as a tax invoice, (2) the seller's identity (name or business name), (3) the seller's ABN, (4) the date of issue, (5) a brief description of the items or services sold (including quantity where applicable), (6) the GST amount (if any), or a statement that the total price includes GST, and (7) the extent to which each sale is a taxable sale. For sales of $1,000 or more (including GST), you must also include the buyer's identity or ABN.
- Does the ATO provide an official invoice template?
- The ATO publishes the list of required tax invoice elements and worked examples of what a valid tax invoice looks like, rather than a downloadable template library. Any layout is acceptable as long as it carries the required information. The free templates on this page follow the ATO's published requirements: they are marked "Tax Invoice", include your ABN and business identity, the date of issue, itemised descriptions with quantities, and the GST amount or an all-inclusive GST statement, with a dedicated buyer-details field for sales of $1,000 or more.
- Which template do I download if I am not registered for GST?
- Download the non-GST invoice template. It is headed "Invoice" rather than "Tax Invoice", shows no GST line, and carries the statement that no GST has been charged, which is what the ATO expects from a business below the $75,000 registration threshold ($150,000 for not-for-profits). Using a Tax Invoice template while unregistered is the mistake to avoid: you must not use those words, and you must not show a GST line. If you register later, switch to the standard tax invoice template from that date.
- Why is one of these files headed Invoice and the rest Tax Invoice?
- Because only a GST-registered business may issue a tax invoice. Four of the five templates are headed "Tax Invoice" and show GST as a line in the totals, because that is what a registered business must issue on a sale of more than $82.50 when the buyer asks. The fifth is headed plainly "Invoice", shows no GST at all, and says no GST has been charged: that is the one to use if you are not registered. Downloading the wrong one is not a formatting preference, it changes what the document claims about your GST status.
- How long do I need to keep copies of my invoices?
- The ATO requires you to keep invoice records for at least 5 years from the later of: when the record was prepared or obtained, or when the related transaction was completed. This applies to both invoices you issue and invoices you receive. For records relating to depreciating assets or capital gains, the 5 years runs from when the relevant CGT or depreciation event ends. Digital copies (such as PDFs) are acceptable as long as they're legible and stored securely.
- Can I use these templates for ABN-only businesses (sole traders)?
- Yes. These templates work for all Australian business structures including sole traders, partnerships, companies, and trusts. Every template includes a field for your ABN. If you're a sole trader not registered for GST, download the dedicated non-GST invoice template: it shows no GST line, is headed "Invoice" rather than "Tax Invoice", and includes the statement that no GST has been charged.
- Can I edit these templates in Word or Google Docs?
- Yes. Each template downloads as a .docx file that opens in Microsoft Word, Google Docs (upload it to Drive and open with Docs), Pages, and LibreOffice. Every template also has a print-ready web version: open it in your browser, replace the bracketed placeholders, and use Print then Save as PDF to produce the finished invoice. If you'd rather not edit documents at all, the free OneBookPlus invoice generator builds the same ATO-compliant invoice in your browser and downloads it as a PDF.
- Which invoice template is best for tradies (plumbers, electricians, builders)?
- Use the Tradie Invoice template. It separates a materials list from a labour breakdown so you can show job details, parts and time on the same tax invoice: the layout plumbers, electricians and builders need for job invoicing. It is GST-line ready and includes the ABN and "Tax Invoice" elements the ATO requires, plus job/site address and work-completed date fields. If you raise the same jobs repeatedly, you can also create them automatically (with GST applied) in OneBookPlus instead of filling in a template each time.
- Is there an invoice template for a cleaning business?
- Yes. For one-off cleans use the Standard Tax Invoice template; for ongoing commercial-cleaning contracts use the Service / Retainer Invoice template, which adds a billing period and agreement reference so you can bill the same client each month. Both are GST-compliant and ABN-ready. List each clean as a line item with its rate, apply 10% GST if you are registered, and the template totals the subtotal, GST and amount due for you.
Sources & methodology
How we calculate this
Every template on this page is laid out around the elements the ATO lists for a valid tax invoice: the words Tax Invoice, the seller's identity and ABN, the date of issue, a description of what was sold, the GST amount or a statement that the total includes GST, and the buyer's identity or ABN once the sale reaches $1,000 including GST. The non-GST template deliberately drops all of that and is headed Invoice, because a business that is not registered for GST must not issue a tax invoice. The templates apply no rate table beyond the 10% GST rate, and we do not judge whether a particular sale is taxable, GST-free or input-taxed. The .docx and print-ready HTML files are static documents: nothing you type into them reaches us.
Authoritative sources
Reviewed by Bishal Shrestha, Founder of OneBookPlus, 10+ years building tools with Australian tax-agent and BAS-agent practices. Page last reviewed and updated: .
Disclaimer: This calculator produces estimates only and is not tax advice. Tax outcomes depend on your individual circumstances. For decisions that affect your tax position, consult a registered tax agent or the ATO directly.
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