Deposit invoice in Australia
A deposit invoice asks for part of the price before you start. Here is how to show it, a worked example with GST, and what to check with your accountant.
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What a deposit invoice is
A deposit invoice asks the customer for a part of the price up front, usually before materials are ordered or work starts. When the job is done, the final invoice shows the full price, the deposit already paid and the balance left to pay.
Say how much the deposit is, and when it is due, on the quote first. The quote vs invoice guide shows how one price carries from the quote to the final invoice.
What to show on it
Sources: ATO: tax invoices, business.gov.au: how to invoice, checked 1 November 2026.
A worked example
Sample numbers for one job, for illustration only.
| Amount | Of which GST | |
|---|---|---|
| Job price (ex GST) | Amount$4,000.00 | Of which GST |
| GST at 10% | Amount$400.00 | Of which GST$400.00 |
| Job total (inc GST) | Amount$4,400.00 | Of which GST$400.00 |
| Deposit: 30% of the total | Amount$1,320.00 | Of which GST$120.00 |
| Balance due on completion | Amount$3,080.00 | Of which GST$280.00 |
The GST in a GST-inclusive amount is one eleventh of it: $1,320 divided by 11 is $120. The deposit and the balance together carry the full $400.
GST on a deposit
Sources: ATO: GSTR 2006/2 (deposits), ATO: tax invoices, checked 1 November 2026 from search excerpts only, because the ATO site refused a direct fetch.
Some states limit how much deposit you can ask for on building work. See the builder and landscaper templates.