What to Put on a Tradie Invoice (Australia): A Simple Checklist

5 June 2026 · 5 min read

Quick answer: A valid tax invoice in Australia needs the words "Tax invoice", your business name and ABN, the date, a description of the work, the amount, and the GST (if you're registered). Add your customer's details, a unique invoice number and clear payment terms and you'll get paid faster.

The quote wins the job; the invoice gets you paid. A messy or incomplete invoice slows down payment and can cause headaches at tax time — and if you're registered for GST, there are specific things the ATO expects on a valid tax invoice. Here's a simple checklist.

The must-have details

"Tax invoice" — if you're registered for GST, the document must say "Tax invoice".
Your business name and ABN — required on every invoice.
The date — when you issued the invoice.
A unique invoice number — so you and the customer can track it.
The customer's details — name (and ABN for larger sales).
A description of the work — what you did, ideally itemised.
The amount — the total payable.
GST — the GST amount, or a note that the total includes GST, if you're registered.

What gets you paid faster

Beyond the legal basics, a few details make a real difference to how quickly the money lands:

Clear payment terms — e.g. "Payment due within 7 days".
Payment methods — your bank details (BSB and account), and any other options.
A due date — an actual date, not just "on completion".
A reference back to the quote — so the customer can see it matches what they approved.

Showing GST on the invoice

If you're registered for GST, the invoice must make the GST clear — either show the GST amount as a line, or state that the total includes GST. It's the same principle as on your quote; our guide to GST on quotes walks through both ways to show it.

From quote to invoice without the double-handling

The fastest way to a clean invoice is to start from a clean quote. EasyQuote AI helps you produce professional, itemised quotes with your ABN, clear totals and GST handled — and you can export to Xero to raise the matching tax invoice without re-typing everything. Start free and tidy up your paperwork from quote to payment.

Frequently asked questions

What do you need to put on a tradie invoice in Australia?

A valid tax invoice needs the words "Tax invoice", your business name and ABN, the date, a description of the work, the amount, and the GST if you're registered. Add the customer's details, a unique invoice number and clear payment terms.

What makes a valid tax invoice in Australia?

If you're registered for GST, the document must say "Tax invoice" and show your business name, ABN, the date, a description of the work, the total, and the GST amount or a note that the total includes GST.

How do you get an invoice paid faster?

Add clear payment terms, your bank details, an actual due date, and a reference back to the quote so the customer can see it matches what they approved.

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