ABN invoice template for sole traders and contractors
Your ABN in the place a business customer's accounts team expects to find it — which is the difference between being paid in full and having 47% withheld.
- ABN saved once
- GST optional
- Trading name supported
- Free to use
- From
- Northside Electrical Pty Ltd
- ABN 45 210 998 337
- Bill to
- Harbourview Property Group
- ABN 98 765 432 109
- Invoice no.
- INV-1042
- Date issued
- 14 July 2026
| Description | Qty | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Site inspection & report | 1 | $450.00 |
| Installation labour (6 hrs) | 6 | $720.00 |
| Materials — as quoted | 1 | $286.00 |
The 47% problem
When one business pays another and the supplier has not quoted an ABN on the invoice, the payer is generally required to withhold tax at the top rate — 47% — and remit it to the ATO. You eventually get it back through your tax return, but not this quarter, and not without paperwork.
This is the single most expensive thing to leave off an invoice, and it is entirely avoidable. Enter your ABN in InvoiceGen once and it appears on every document you issue.
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Saved to your profile Entered once when you set up your business details, then applied automatically.
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Placed where it is looked for In the sender block at the top, next to your business name, not buried in the footer.
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Shown with your trading name Business names are registered against an ABN, so both appear together.
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On every document Quotes, orders and invoices, whether or not you are registered for GST.
- From
- Northside Electrical Pty Ltd
- ABN 45 210 998 337
- Bill to
- Harbourview Property Group
- ABN 98 765 432 109
- Invoice no.
- INV-1042
- Date issued
- 14 July 2026
| Description | Qty | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Site inspection & report | 1 | $450.00 |
| Installation labour (6 hrs) | 6 | $720.00 |
| Materials — as quoted | 1 | $286.00 |
ABN, GST, business name — what is what
These get used interchangeably and are three different registrations with three different triggers.
| Registration | What it is | When you need it |
|---|---|---|
| ABN | An Australian Business Number — an 11-digit identifier for your business in dealings with the ATO and with other businesses. | If you are carrying on an enterprise in Australia. It is free to apply for through the Australian Business Register. |
| GST registration | Registration to collect and remit GST at 10%. Requires an ABN first. | Compulsory once GST turnover reaches $75,000 ($150,000 for non-profits), within 21 days. Optional below that. |
| Business name | A trading name registered with ASIC, held against your ABN. | If you trade under anything other than your own personal name as a sole trader. |
Sole trader, contractor, or employee?
Having an ABN does not by itself make someone a contractor rather than an employee. That distinction turns on the substance of the working relationship, and getting it wrong has consequences for superannuation and PAYG. If a client asks you to invoice under an ABN for work that looks like employment, it is worth checking the ATO's guidance rather than assuming the invoice settles it.
Put your ABN on every invoice, automatically
Enter it once when you set up. It appears on every quote, order and invoice from then on.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to put my ABN on an invoice?
A tax invoice must show the seller's ABN — it is one of the ATO's required fields. Even on a non-GST invoice it is worth including, because if you supply another business and do not quote an ABN, that business may be required to withhold 47% of the payment and send it to the ATO.
What is the 'no ABN withholding' rule?
Where a supplier does not quote an ABN on an invoice for a business-to-business supply, the payer is generally required to withhold at the top rate — 47% — from the payment. It is not a penalty aimed at you so much as a default the payer has to apply. Putting your ABN on the invoice avoids it entirely.
Can a sole trader invoice without an ABN?
If you are carrying on an enterprise in Australia, you should have an ABN, and applying for one is free through the Australian Business Register. There are narrow situations — a genuine hobby, or a one-off private transaction — where no enterprise is being carried on. If you are unsure which side of the line you are on, ask your accountant before you invoice.
Is an ABN the same as being registered for GST?
No. They are separate registrations. You need an ABN before you can register for GST, but you can hold an ABN for years without registering. GST registration becomes compulsory at $75,000 of turnover.
Should I show my ABN if I trade under a business name?
Yes, both. Show the trading name your customer recognises, and the ABN it is registered against. Business names are registered to an ABN, so the two belong together on the document.