How to make an invoice without GST

Use the right document heading

Choose “Invoice” for an unregistered seller. Set out the amount payable and make it clear that no GST has been charged. A $300 job remains $300; the tool should not add $30 or invent a GST component inside it.

This is different from a registered business supplying a GST-free item. The immediate arithmetic may look similar, but the registration status and reason for no GST are different.

What to include for a useful record

Provide your business name, appropriate business identifiers, contact details, issue date, reference, customer details, description, quantities where relevant and final amount. Add clear payment terms so the customer knows when and how to pay.

For example, two sessions at $150 each produce a $300 invoice. A specific description such as “Consultation sessions — September” helps the customer associate the request with the work.

Use the registration switch

In the invoice maker, clear “Registered for GST”. The heading becomes “Invoice”, tax selectors are hidden, and the total contains no GST. The preview explicitly states that no GST has been charged.

Review the draft before saving it as a PDF. The registration switch is your declaration for this document; it is not a live lookup of your business status. ABN format validation is also separate from GST registration.

Recheck when the business changes

Monitor whether registration becomes required as your activities and turnover change. Do not assume an old invoice template remains suitable indefinitely. If you should already have registered, simply switching GST off does not resolve that obligation.

Confirm the effective date and any required corrections with the ATO or your adviser. Keep a copy of the original document and a record of changes instead of silently overwriting what a customer already received.

Common questions