Taxable supply information, in plain words
Inland Revenue no longer talks only about "tax invoices". The rules now describe taxable supply information: the details a GST-registered buyer needs to back up their GST claim. You can keep that information in an invoice, a receipt, a contract or a mix of records, and it doesn't have to sit on one single document.
For most small businesses an invoice is still the easiest place to put it all. Duebolt titles the document Tax invoice when your GST number is filled in and GST is charged, so your clients know at a glance what they're holding.
What to include at each price band
IRD sets out what the information must cover depending on the value of the supply:
| Supply value | What it must show |
|---|---|
| $200 or less | Your name or trading name, the date, a description of the goods or services, and the amount |
| Over $200, up to $1,000 | All of the above plus your GST number and the GST payment details |
| Over $1,000 | All of the above plus the buyer's name and at least one identifier, such as their address, phone number, email, trading name, NZBN or website |
"GST payment details" means either the GST-exclusive amount, the GST amount and the GST-inclusive total, or just the GST-inclusive total with a statement that GST is included, when everything is at the standard rate. Duebolt prints all three figures, which covers both.
Your GST number and the 15% rate
GST in New Zealand is 15% on most taxable supplies. You must register once your turnover is more than $60,000 in any 12-month period, and you can register voluntarily below that.
- Registered: add your GST number under Tax & registration numbers. It prints near your business details on every invoice.
- Not registered: set GST to 0% and leave the GST number empty. Your document is then a plain invoice.
Some supplies are zero-rated. Set 0% on just those lines and Duebolt shows GST per rate in the totals.
When a buyer asks for it
If a GST-registered buyer asks for taxable supply information for a supply over $200, you need to provide it within 28 days of the request, or by another date you both agree.
The easy habit is to send the invoice when the job is finished. If you're asked again later, open it from your account and download the same PDF, so the number and figures never change.
The NZ layout
Choosing New Zealand sets:
- A4 paper, amounts in New Zealand dollars and dates written day first.
- GST at 15%, with an NZBN field if you have one. The NZBN isn't on IRD's list of required details, but it's useful for business clients.
- Bank account in the standard bank-branch-account-suffix format, so clients can pay by internet banking.
- Default payment terms of 20 days, easy to change to 7 or on receipt.
Last checked October 23, 2026.