ABN invoice template

Worked example with sample figures

The figures below are invented to show how the template adds up: 3 lines in AUD, with no tax added.

Net amount A$480.00, GST A$0.00, total payable A$480.00.

What the document must show

These details make an invoice easier to approve and to file.

• Your business name, address and registration or tax number
• The customer's name and address
• Issue date and a document number you do not reuse
• Each line item with quantity, unit price and amount
• Tax shown separately from the net amount, and the total payable
• Payment terms: due date, bank details or accepted payment methods

The GST here is 10%, applied to the net amount and shown as its own line.

What an Australian ABN invoice must show

This is an ordinary invoice for a sole trader or small business that quotes its ABN and does not charge GST. The ATO’s list for the tax invoice of a sale under $1,000 is the closest official list, so the rows follow it, with where each detail goes in QuoteBill.

Your ABN

The ATO lists the seller’s Australian business number among a tax invoice’s details and says a business that supplies goods or services should quote its ABN. Enter it as your tax registration number in the company details.

The seller’s identity

Your name or business name, in the company details.

The date the invoice was issued

A field of the document.

A brief description of the items, with the quantity and the price

One line for each job or item. The sample lines are a fortnightly garden visit, mulch and plants, and green waste removal: replace them with your own.

The buyer’s identity or ABN, for $1,000 or more

The ATO asks for it on tax invoices for sales of $1,000 or more. It costs nothing to add the customer’s name or ABN in the customer details on any invoice.

The GST amount

None: this template charges no GST, so its tax rate starts at 0% and the total is the sum of your lines.

A worked example

A gardener with an ABN who does not charge GST invoices two fortnightly visits at $120 each ($240), mulch and plants at $180 and green waste removal at $60. The total is $480, with the ABN near the top, the issue date, and the customer’s name and address under it.

These are the template’s sample lines with their sample prices. Replace them with your own work and your customer’s details.

This is not a tax invoice

The ATO describes tax invoices for taxable sales, and the seven details it lists include that the document is intended to be a tax invoice, the GST amount and the extent to which each sale is taxable. If you do not charge GST there is no GST amount and nothing taxable to describe, so use this ordinary invoice and leave out the words “Tax invoice”.

If you are registered for GST, use the Australian GST invoice template instead, which prints “Tax invoice” and shows GST on its own line.

When GST comes in

The ATO says not every business needs to be registered for GST. You must register when your GST turnover, your gross income from all businesses minus GST, is $75,000 or more, and in a few other cases such as taxi or limousine travel, including ride-sourcing. Otherwise registering is optional. You need an ABN before you register.

The ATO also says that if you do not register when you are required to, you may have to pay GST on sales made since the date you were required to register, even if you did not include GST in the price of those sales.

Why the ABN goes on every invoice

The ATO says that if a business supplies you with goods or services it should quote its ABN, and that if it does not, the business paying generally withholds the top rate of tax from the payment and sends it to the ATO. An invoice that shows your ABN gives your customer what they need to pay you in full.

The $82.50 line

If a customer asks for a tax invoice, a seller must provide one within 28 days unless the sale is $82.50 (including GST) or less. That is a rule about tax invoices, so it matters from the day you start charging GST, not for this template.

Questions about invoicing with an ABN

Do I put my ABN on every invoice?

Yes. The ATO says a supplier should quote its ABN, and that without one the payer generally withholds the top rate of tax from the payment.

Where does the ABN go in QuoteBill?

Set the country to Australia and enter it as your tax registration number in the company details.

Can I email the invoice as a PDF?

Yes. The ATO says a tax invoice does not need to be on paper and that emailing a PDF is fine as long as it carries all the required information. In QuoteBill, open the template and use Print / PDF, or download the Word or Excel file.

What about sales of $1,000 or more?

For tax invoices the ATO adds the buyer’s identity or ABN. Adding the customer’s name and address to every invoice covers it.

• Australian GST invoice template (GST on its own line)
• Guide: Australian tax invoice and GST requirements

Official sources: ATO: Tax invoices (2026-10-06)

Official sources: ATO: Registering for GST (2026-10-06)

Official sources: ATO: Withholding from suppliers (2026-10-06)

Official rate reference: ATO: how GST works

Full requirements: Australian tax invoice: GST requirements explained

Frequently asked questions

Read next

Reading for the ABN invoice template: How to write an invoice: a step-by-step example and Credit note vs invoice (and credit memo): how to issue one. The VAT and GST calculator works out the tax line for you.