Tax invoice or plain invoice?
It depends on one thing: are you registered for GST?
- Registered: your invoices are tax invoices. They show your ABN, include GST (usually 10%) and say "Tax invoice" at the top, so your business customers can claim GST credits.
- Not registered: you send an ordinary invoice with your ABN and no GST. You can't charge GST until you're registered, and it shouldn't be called a tax invoice.
Registration is required once your GST turnover reaches $75,000 (current or projected over 12 months). Duebolt handles the title for you: fill in your ABN and charge GST, and the document is titled Tax invoice. Set GST to 0% and it stays a plain Invoice.
What the ATO says a tax invoice must show
For sales under $1,000, a tax invoice needs seven details:
- That it's intended to be a tax invoice.
- Your identity (business or trading name).
- Your ABN.
- The date it was issued.
- A brief description of what you sold, including quantity and price.
- The GST amount (if any).
- The extent to which each sale is taxable, which matters when some lines are GST-free.
If the GST is exactly one-eleventh of the total, the ATO accepts a statement such as "Total price includes GST" instead of a separate GST figure. Duebolt shows the GST line anyway, which is the clearest option.
Sales of $1,000 or more
These also need the buyer's identity or ABN. Both thresholds are measured on the GST-inclusive price. Duebolt has an ABN field for your client, as in the example above.
Your ABN, even without GST
Quote your ABN on every invoice, registered for GST or not. If a supplier doesn't quote an ABN by the time they're paid, the business paying them generally has to withhold 47% of the payment for the ATO. Many businesses simply won't pay an invoice without one.
Add your ABN once in Tax & registration numbers and Duebolt prints it on every invoice, quote and receipt. Duebolt also has a buyer ABN field for jobs where your client's details need to appear.
When you have to provide one
If a customer asks for a tax invoice, you must give it to them within 28 days of the request. The exception is a sale of $82.50 or less (including GST), where you don't have to provide one.
In practice, send it when the job is done. A tax invoice issued on the day is easier for everyone than one chased a month later.
The Australian layout
Pick Australia and the template is set up like this:
- A4 paper, amounts in Australian dollars ($1,234.50) and dates written day first.
- GST at 10%, or 0% on GST-free lines. Each line can have its own rate, and the totals show GST per rate.
- BSB and account number, plus PayID, which is how most Australian invoices get paid.
- Payment terms of 14 days by default; change them to 7 or 30 in seconds.
Last checked October 23, 2026.