First Gate Student Toolkit · Free tool

Australian Invoice Generator

Create a professional Australian invoice in minutes, free, private and built for students, freelancers and contractors working with an ABN.

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Your business

Start with your ABN, we check it on the Australian Business Register and fill in your details for you.

Type your 11-digit ABN and we'll check it on ABN Lookup (Australian Business Register): only the ABN is sent, nothing else. Without an ABN on the invoice, the payer may be required to withhold 47% (amounts over AUD 75).

Use this if you don't have an ABN yet, you're invoicing as an individual, or the ABR check isn't available right now. You can still create a valid invoice.

Client

Start with your client's ABN, we check it on the ABR and fill in their details. Tax invoices of AUD 1,000 or more must show the buyer's identity (or ABN).

Type the 11 digits and we'll fill in your client's details automatically. Only the ABN is sent to the register.

Use this for individuals, overseas clients, or when the ABR check isn't available.

Invoice details
Suggested number stored only on this browser. Confirm it matches your own invoice records.
The invoice needs an issue date.
Items

Describe each service or deliverable. Qty accepts fractions (e.g. 2.5 hours).

Include at least one complete item, description, quantity and a positive amount. Blank rows are ignored.
GST

Only charge GST if the business is registered for GST. When the ABN is verified on the ABR, the GST registration is confirmed (or blocked) automatically. With GST off the document is titled “Invoice”; on, “Tax Invoice”.

To add GST, confirm the business is registered for GST.
Not sure? Check your status at ATO, Registering for GST.
Payment details

How your client pays you. Fill in only what you use, bank account, PayID or both.

A BSB has 6 digits (format 000-000).
Notes

What is an invoice in Australia?

An invoice is the document you send a client to charge for a product or service: how much they owe, when to pay by and how to pay. In Australia, anyone working for themselves, from a freelance designer to a delivery rider with an ABN, issues their own invoices to get paid. A PDF sent by email is a perfectly valid document.

There are two main types, and the difference is the issuer's GST registration:

If a customer asks for a tax invoice you have 28 days to provide one (except sales of AUD 82.50 or less, GST inclusive). And keep your records for at least 5 years.

Sources: ATO, Tax invoices · business.gov.au, How to invoice

The ABN in a nutshell

The ABN (Australian Business Number) is the 11-digit number that identifies a business in Australia, including people working on their own as sole traders. It's what appears on your invoice and what lets companies pay you as a contractor. This tool verifies ABNs directly against ABN Lookup, the official public register.

Why the ABN matters on your invoice: if you don't quote an ABN, the payer may be required by the ATO to withhold 47% of the payment (the “no ABN withholding” rule, for amounts over AUD 75).

Source: ATO, Withholding if ABN not provided

GST in a nutshell

GST (Goods and Services Tax) is the 10% tax on most goods and services in Australia. Businesses registered for GST charge the 10% on their invoices and pass it on to the ATO; businesses that aren't registered don't charge GST.

Most students and new freelancers earn below the threshold, that's why this tool only adds GST when the ABR confirms (or you confirm) that the business is registered. When in doubt, check with the ATO or a professional.

Source: ATO, Registering for GST

Common invoicing mistakes

  1. Writing “Tax Invoice” without being registered for GST. A regular invoice says just “Invoice”, this tool switches the title automatically.
  2. Charging GST without registration. The 10% only belongs on invoices from businesses registered for GST with the ATO.
  3. Forgetting the ABN. Without one, the payer may withhold 47% of the amount. This tool checks your ABN on ABN Lookup before you send.
  4. No numbering, no records. Use your own sequential numbering and keep every PDF for at least 5 years.
  5. Skipping the buyer's details on bigger sales. From AUD 1,000, the client's identity (or ABN) must appear.
  6. Leaving the deadline open. Set clear Payment Terms and a Due Date, invoices without one get paid late.

Official sources and verification

Content checked against official sources on 25/07/2026
Next scheduled review: July 2027 (or earlier if the ATO changes thresholds or rules). The tax rules on this page come from:

Privacy and saved data

Everything you type into this tool is processed locally, in your browser, with one transparent exception: an ABN you enter is sent to the Australian Business Register (through a First Gate lookup service) purely to check that it exists, is active and whether it's registered for GST, public data from the official register. No other field, names, amounts, bank details, clients or your logo, ever leaves your device, and our lookup service doesn't log the ABN. If the ABR is unavailable, the tool tells you and keeps working in manual mode.

What this browser may store, and only with your action: an automatic draft of the invoice you're working on (so you can pick up where you left off), your business profile (only when you click “Save as my business profile”) and your saved clients (only when you click “Save this client”). Nothing is ever sent to First Gate or any server. We only measure anonymous usage events (e.g. “a PDF was generated”) via Google Analytics, like the rest of the site, never anything you typed.

To remove everything this tool stores in this browser (draft, suggested numbering, business profile and saved clients):

Related tools and guides

Your invoice is just one part of your financial life in Australia. Keep planning:

Calculator · Portuguese
Salary (TFN × ABN)
What you actually keep from what you invoice, after tax and super
Guide · Portuguese
TFN, ABN and Super
The international student's guide to Australian tax basics
Guide · Portuguese
Working in Australia
Jobs, rights and how international students find work
Calculator · Portuguese
Cost of Living
What it costs to live in 8 Australian cities

See also all First Gate tools.

Disclaimer: this tool provides general calculations and documents for information purposes. It does not constitute accounting, tax or legal advice. Confirm your obligations with the ATO or a qualified professional.

Frequently asked questions about invoicing in Australia

Short answers, checked against official sources (ATO, ABR and business.gov.au). Rules change. always confirm with the source before making decisions.

Do I need an ABN to issue an invoice in Australia?

If you work as a freelancer or contractor (sole trader), in practice yes: if your invoice doesn't show an ABN, the payer may be required by the ATO to withhold 47% of the payment (the "no ABN withholding" rule, for amounts over AUD 75). This tool lets you generate an invoice without an ABN, but including one is strongly recommended. You can check any ABN for free on ABN Lookup.

Does this tool actually verify my ABN?

Yes. Once you type the 11 digits, the ABN is checked automatically against ABN Lookup, the official public register (Australian Business Register): active or cancelled status, entity name, entity type, state and GST registration. You can also verify your client's ABN with the Verify button. If the ABR is unavailable, the tool tells you clearly and lets you continue with a manual confirmation. it never gets stuck.

What is the difference between an "Invoice" and a "Tax Invoice"?

"Tax Invoice" is the document used by businesses registered for GST: it shows the GST charged and must meet the ATO's requirements. If you're not registered for GST you issue a regular invoice, which must not use the words "tax invoice" and must not charge GST. The tool switches the document title automatically based on your GST setting.

Do I need to charge GST on my invoice?

As a rule, only if your business is registered for GST. Registration is mandatory once your GST turnover reaches AUD 75,000 a year (and for taxi or ride-sourcing services regardless of turnover). Below the threshold it's optional. Important: having an ABN does not mean you're registered for GST: they are separate registrations, and this tool checks your actual GST status on the ABR.

What changes for sales of AUD 1,000 or more?

On top of the standard tax invoice items (a statement that it's a tax invoice, the seller's identity, ABN, date, description with quantity and price, the GST amount and the extent to which each sale is taxable), from AUD 1,000 the invoice must also show the buyer's identity or ABN. That's why the tool includes the client section and an optional Client ABN.

Where is my data stored? Can First Gate see my invoices?

No, we can't. Everything is processed and stored locally in your browser, with one transparent exception: an ABN you type is sent to the Australian Business Register (through a First Gate lookup service that doesn't log the number) purely for verification against the public register. Names, amounts, bank details, clients and your logo never leave your device. Business profile and saved clients are only stored when you explicitly save them, and you can delete everything at any time with the "Delete all saved data" button.

How long should I keep my invoices?

The official guidance is to keep business records for at least 5 years, on paper or digitally. Keep a copy of every invoice PDF you issue. this tool doesn't store an invoice history for you.

Read also: TFN, ABN and Super: student guide (Portuguese) · Salary calculator TFN × ABN (Portuguese) · Working in Australia guide (Portuguese) · All First Gate tools

Reviewed against official sources on 25/07/2026 · Next review: 01/07/2027
Official sources: ABR: ABN Lookup web services · ATO: Tax invoices · ATO: Registering for GST · ATO: Withholding if ABN not provided · business.gov.au: How to invoice · ABN Lookup (Australian Business Register)

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