Many freelancers in Australia can do invoicing on the fly, until a client asks for a tax invoice or a payment gets delayed because a required field was missing. The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has specific rules about what you need to include on goods and services tax (GST) invoices. Freelancers who fail to include the correct information could end up chasing payments, encountering compliance issues, or missing out on revenue. Below, we’ll explain how to invoice clients as a freelancer in Australia.

What’s in this article?

• How do you structure a freelance invoice in Australia?
  
• What tax information must appear on freelance invoices in Australia?
  
• How should freelancers manage recurring vs. one-off invoicing?
  

How do you structure a freelance invoice in Australia?

Good invoicing practices help you get paid on time and meet your obligations under Australian tax law. Here’s what to include, how to arrange it, and why each part matters.

Business details

From a quick glance, it should be clear whom an invoice is from. That means including:

• Your name or registered business name
  
• Your Australian Business Number (ABN)
  
• Your contact information, including an email address, phone number, and business address (if relevant)
  

If you use a logo or custom branding, ensure it doesn’t obscure or crowd out this necessary information.

Title, issue date, and invoice number

At the top of the document, use “Tax Invoice” as the title if you’re charging GST. Otherwise, “Invoice” is fine. Also include:

• A unique, sequential invoice number
  
• The issue date
  
• A payment due date or payment terms (e.g., “Due 14 days from invoice date”)
  

Clients, especially larger ones, use these details to match payments, process your invoice internally, and meet their own compliance obligations. A missing invoice number or vague payment terms can slow down your cash flow.

Client information

If you’re issuing a tax invoice of 1,000 Australian dollars (AUD) or more (including GST), the ATO requires you to include either the client’s full name or business name or the client’s ABN.

Even if the invoice is under that threshold, it’s still a good idea to include the client’s information. It shows whom the invoice is for, which can be very useful if you work with multiple departments or stakeholders within a business.

Service or product descriptions

Itemize the work in a way that’s easy to understand. For each line:

• Describe the service or product delivered
  
• Indicate quantity (e.g., number of hours, units, or sessions)
  
• Specify your rate (e.g., hourly, flat fee, per unit)
  
• Specify the GST applied, if any
  
• Show the total line amount
  

Service or product descriptions serve as a record of the scope delivered, which can be helpful if disputes arise in the future. Avoid vague descriptions such as “freelance services.”

Totals and tax

At the bottom of your itemized list:

• Show a subtotal (before tax)
  
• Show the total GST added, if applicable
  
• Show the final amount due
  

Here’s an example:

• Subtotal: 1,200 AUD
  
• GST (10%): 120 AUD
  
• Total: 1,320 AUD
  

If you’re not registered for GST, show the total and note, “No GST charged.” This removes ambiguity and reassures clients you’re invoicing within the rules.

If your rates already include GST, you can state, “Total price includes GST.”

Payment instructions

Ensure clients know exactly how to pay you. Include:

• Bank account details such as Bank State Branch (BSB) and account numbers for Australian clients
  
• Any reference number you want them to include when they pay
  
• An online payment link for cards, digital wallets, and alternative payment methods
  

If you use Stripe Invoicing, you can include a “Pay this invoice” button directly on the invoice to save time for you and your client.

It can also be helpful to mention your payment terms again (e.g., “Payment due in 14 days”).

Optional extra notes

You can use the footer for any helpful but nonessential information, such as:

• A short thank-you
  
• Your late fee policy
  
• Notes about deliverables or context for the invoice
  

What tax information must appear on freelance invoices in Australia?

In Australia, invoices double as tax records. If you’re a freelancer who’s registered for GST, your invoices must satisfy ATO rules. Here’s what you need to include to stay compliant and avoid problems for you and your client.

Your ABN

Every tax invoice you issue must include your ABN. This confirms your business is registered and allows the ATO to identify your business, if needed. Always double-check that your ABN is correct and clearly visible.

A “Tax Invoice” label, if applicable

If you’re registered for GST, you must clarify that your invoices are tax invoices. That means including the words “Tax Invoice” at the top.

If you’re not registered for GST, don’t use the term “Tax Invoice.” That label is reserved for invoices that include GST.

Any GST you charged

If GST applies, show exactly how much of the invoice it accounts for. Include:

• A list of the items sold, quantities, and prices
  
• The GST amount for each item or a statement that the total price includes GST
  

The client must be able to see how much GST was charged and confirm that it’s correct.

If you’re not registered for GST, you can state, “No GST charged,” or, “Not registered for GST.” This signals that the omission of tax is intentional.

The buyer’s details (for larger invoices)

If the total, including GST, is 1,000 AUD or more, you must include the client’s identity on the invoice (either their name or their ABN).

How should freelancers manage recurring vs. one-off invoicing?

Freelancers often work with a mix of clients and project types. Clients might pay a freelancer via retainer for regular or recurring work, or on a per-project basis for one-off assignments. Structuring and managing invoices differently depending on the work type helps you stay organized, keep cash flow steady, and avoid late payments.

Recurring invoices

For ongoing work, such as retainers, monthly contracts, and weekly hours, consistency matters. Set a clear cadence up front (e.g., “Invoice on the 1st of each month, payment due in 7 days”). Each invoice should refer to a specific time period (e.g., “Strategy consulting for May 2025”). If the amount is fixed, use the same template each time.

To simplify this process, use software that supports recurring billing. With tools like Stripe Invoicing, you can:

• Schedule invoices to go out automatically
  
• Save clients’ information for preferred payment methods (with their consent) and charge them automatically
  
• Enable automatic reminders for overdue invoices
  

This saves you admin time, helps with cash flow, and lowers the risk of missed invoices or late payments. But even if you use automation, review your recurring invoices before they go out. If the scope changes, you don’t want to keep charging for last month’s terms.

One-off invoices

The rules change slightly for ad hoc projects. Invoice as soon as you deliver the work or reach a specific milestone. Prompt billing gets you paid faster.

On your invoice, reference the project or deliverable. If this is the second or third stage of a larger project, indicate that on the invoice (e.g., “Invoice for stage 2 of [Project Name]”).

These invoices might be a little more customized, especially if the scope or structure varies. Include:

• What the invoice is for
  
• When the work was done
  
• Agreed payment terms (e.g., “Due in 14 days”)
  
• Instructions for how to pay you
  

Keep the invoice as clear as possible. This is particularly important for one-off projects because the client might not have worked with you before. You want to do everything you can to ensure the invoice doesn’t get bounced around internally or delayed due to missing information.

Track what’s been paid

It’s easy to lose track when you’re juggling multiple projects across different clients. Use a simple system to monitor:

• Which invoices have been sent
  
• Which are paid, pending, or overdue
  
• When recurring invoices are scheduled to go out
  

Even a basic tracker can help. For a more advanced option, consider invoicing tools that do this for you. The best ones will also follow up automatically with clients on your behalf. Stripe Invoicing gives you a dashboard to monitor invoice status, send reminders, and get alerts when payments are received.