Tax invoice template for Australian sole traders

What an invoice must show in Australia

• The words "tax invoice"

  If you are registered for GST, call the document a tax invoice, so it is clearly intended to be one. [1]

• Who is selling

  Your identity as the seller, usually your business name. [2]

• Your ABN

  Your Australian business number (ABN). [2]

• The issue date

  The date the invoice was issued. [2]

• What you sold

  A brief description of each item sold, with the quantity (if applicable) and the price. [2]

• The GST amount

  The GST payable, shown separately. When the GST is exactly one-eleventh of the total price, the statement "Total price includes GST" can be used instead. [2]

• Which items are taxable

  The extent to which each sale on the invoice is taxable. When taxable and GST-free items are mixed, the invoice must show which items are taxable, the GST to pay and the total to pay. [2]

• The buyer, from A$1,000

  For sales of A$1,000 or more, the buyer's identity or ABN as well. [2]

• An invoice number (recommended)

  Not in the legal list, but business.gov.au suggests a unique invoice number to keep track of sales and payments. [3]

• Contact details and payment terms (recommended)

  business.gov.au also suggests your postal address, email and phone number, and when and how you want customers to pay. [3]

Rules worth knowing

Make this invoice in Clodou

• Set your workspace's tax country to Australia. The tax line then reads "GST", your ABN and your client's print with the label "ABN", and invoices that charge GST are titled "TAX INVOICE" (those that charge none are titled "INVOICE").
• Write one message, such as "Invoice Harbour Studio for 12 hours of design at A$95". Clodou finds or creates the client, numbers the invoice (INV-0001, INV-0002…), adds GST at 10% on top of your prices and prints the subtotal, the GST line and the total. If a price is missing, it asks instead of guessing.
• For a mixed invoice, give a line no tax. The PDF then adds a rate column so each item shows whether GST applies, and the GST line names the amount it is worked out on.
• Turn a quote into an invoice in one step with the same taxes, invoice your unbilled time, let monthly retainers draft their invoices, and record part payments with the balance left. The CSV export lists each tax separately for your accountant.
• Clodou shows an approval card before it emails a client or records a payment. Records it creates can be undone for 10 minutes, and its actions are kept in the activity log.

Just ask

What Clodou does not do

• Clodou does not check compliance. This page lists what the ATO asks for and how Clodou prints it; check your invoices with your accountant or registered tax agent.
• No BAS and no GST reporting to the ATO. Clodou is not bookkeeping software: no ledger, no bank feeds, no payroll.
• Prices are entered before GST, and GST is added on top. There is no "prices include GST" mode, so the invoice shows the GST amount rather than "Total price includes GST".
• No eInvoicing (Peppol), no recipient-created tax invoices, and no credit or adjustment notes.
• No currency conversion: an invoice in another currency shows its GST in that currency, not in Australian dollars.
• No card processing, client portal or e-signature. On the Team plan, the PDF prints your own payment link.

Questions

Do I need an ABN on my invoice?

On a tax invoice, yes: the ATO lists your ABN as a required detail. On a regular invoice it is common practice, and it matters: if you don't quote an ABN and a payment is more than A$75 (excluding GST), the business paying you generally has to withhold the top rate of tax from it.

What is the difference between a tax invoice and an invoice?

A GST-registered business issues tax invoices, which show the GST and the details the ATO lists. A business that is not registered for GST issues regular invoices, which show no tax and must not say "tax invoice". No law sets out what a regular invoice contains, but business.gov.au suggests the word "invoice", your business name and ABN, an invoice number, the date, your contact details, a description with quantity and price, payment terms and the buyer's name.

Do sole traders have to charge GST?

Only once registered for GST. Registration is required when your GST turnover is A$75,000 or more, and optional below that. Once registered, you include 10% GST in the price of most sales and issue tax invoices.

Can I email a tax invoice as a PDF?

Yes. The ATO says a tax invoice does not need to be on paper, and a PDF sent by email works as long as it contains all the required information. Clodou makes a PDF for every invoice and, after you approve it, can email it to your client.

Does Clodou check my invoices or lodge my BAS?

No. With your workspace set to Australia, Clodou prints the details listed on this page, but it does not check compliance, lodge BAS or keep your books. Check your invoices with your accountant or registered tax agent.

How much does Clodou cost?

The Free plan includes 20 AI requests and 3 quotes or invoices a month. Solo is US$29 a month or US$290 a year per workspace, and Team, with 5 seats, is US$79 a month or US$790 a year. Prices are in US dollars. Every new workspace starts with a 14-day trial of Team, no card needed.

Sources

1. ATO: Setting up your business invoices
2. ATO: Tax invoices
3. business.gov.au: How to invoice
4. ATO: When you can claim a GST credit
5. business.gov.au: Register for goods and services tax (GST)
6. ATO: Withholding if ABN is not provided
7. ATO: GST-free sales

Last checked on November 5, 2026. This page explains the rules; it is not tax or legal advice. Check your invoices with your accountant or tax adviser.