Free Builder Invoice Template (Australia)

Quick answer

A builder’s invoice needs more structure than most trades: the site address, the contract or job reference, the stage being claimed (deposit, frame, lock-up, completion), approved variations on their own lines, and labour and materials separated. Because building invoices are almost always $1,000 or more, the ATO also requires the customer’s name or ABN on every claim.

Free builder tax invoice template (copy/paste)

TAX INVOICE

From:
Business name: [Your Building Business Name]
ABN: [Your ABN]
Builder licence / registration no: [If required in your state]
Phone: [Phone]
Email: [Email]

Bill To:
Customer: [Customer Name or Business + ABN]
Site address: [Job Address]
Contract / job ref: [e.g., Contract 2026-014]

Invoice details:
Invoice number: [INV-0001]
Invoice date: [DD/MM/YYYY]
Due date: [DD/MM/YYYY]

Stage claimed:
- [e.g., Progress claim 3 of 6: lock-up stage]

Line items:
- [Labour: carpentry, X hrs @ $Y/hr]      $[amount]
- [Materials: itemise the big ones]       $[amount]
- [Subcontractors (if applicable)]        $[amount]
- [Variation 3: as approved DD/MM]        $[amount]

Subtotal (ex GST): $[amount]
GST (10%):         $[amount]
Total this claim:  $[amount]

Contract summary:
- Contract value:        $[amount]
- Claimed to date:       $[amount]
- Balance remaining:     $[amount]

Payment terms:
- Payment due in [7/14/30] days
- Bank transfer: [BSB / Account]
- Reference: Invoice number

Progress claims: one invoice per stage

Residential building contracts set payment stages - typically deposit, base, frame, lock-up, fixing, and completion. Each stage gets its own numbered tax invoice showing the stage claimed, the contract value, and the running balance, like the contract summary block above. Rolling stages together, or reusing an invoice number across claims, is what turns a payment question into a payment dispute. Deposits work the same way - see how to invoice for a deposit.

Variations: reference the approval, every time

Variations are the most disputed line on any building invoice. Give each one its own line, numbered, with the approval date: “Variation 3 - upgrade to stone benchtop, approved 14/06”. If the client signed a variation form, the invoice line should point at it.

ATO-ready basics

• Business name + ABN (+ builder licence number where your state requires it)
• Invoice number + invoice date
• Site address and contract/job reference
• Description of the stage and work claimed
• GST shown as its own line
• Customer name or ABN (building invoices are almost always $1,000+)
• Payment terms

The full rules, including licence-number requirements by state, are in our guide to the ATO tax invoice requirements for tradies.

Note: General information only, not tax advice.

Want progress claims without the spreadsheet?

Free Invoice App saves your business details, licence number, and line items once, numbers every claim automatically, and emails a professional PDF your client can pay by card. Track which claims are paid at a glance instead of in a spreadsheet.

Frequently asked questions

What should a builder invoice include?

Business name, ABN, licence number where required, site address, invoice number and date, labour and materials as separate lines, GST, the total, and the customer’s name or ABN.

How do progress claim invoices work?

One numbered tax invoice per contract stage, stating the stage, the amount claimed, and the balance remaining. Never combine stages on one document.

How should variations be invoiced?

Each approved variation on its own line with the variation number and approval date. Unreferenced variations are the most disputed charge on building invoices.

What is the tax invoice format for a construction company?

The standard ATO tax invoice format plus construction fields: site address, contract reference, stage claimed, and licence number where required. The template above covers all of them.

Do builders need to charge GST?

In practice, almost always - registration is compulsory at $75,000 turnover in a 12-month period, and building businesses cross that quickly.