A free electrical invoice template for Australian sole traders and small electrical businesses. Covers labour, call-out fees, materials markup, ABN, and 10% GST - with a place for your licence number so every invoice looks professional. Or skip the template and use Invio to invoice straight from your phone on site.
No credit card - GST calculated automatically - Send from your phone
A GST-registered sparky's tax invoice needs more than just a total. Here's what the ATO requires and what your customer needs to see.
Business name (or your name if sole trader)
ABN - required on every tax invoice
Electrical licence number (state-dependent)
Phone number and email
Physical or postal address
Invoice number (sequential, for your records)
Invoice date
Payment due date
BSB and bank account for payment
Description of work done - be specific, e.g. "Switchboard upgrade - 18-way consumer unit"
Labour hours x hourly rate
Call-out fee (if applicable)
Materials at cost + markup, listed separately
After-hours or weekend surcharge (if applicable)
Compliance/safety certificate reference where required
Subtotal (ex GST)
GST amount at 10%
Total amount payable (inc GST)
Customer identity (required for invoices A$1,000 or more)
Not GST-registered yet?
If your electrical business earns under A$75,000/year you do not have to register for GST. Do not charge GST and never use the words "Tax Invoice" - that title is reserved for GST-registered suppliers. Issue a plain invoice showing your total instead. Once you cross the threshold, registration is required within 21 days. Check the full AU tax invoice requirements guide if you are unsure.
A realistic example for an EV charger installation and switchboard upgrade job in Sydney.
INV-0091.pdf
8 Illawarra Road
Marrickville NSW 2204
ABN: 74 603 217 845
0433 981 204
Invoice No.
INV-0091
Issue Date
17 Jul 2026
Due Date
31 Jul 2026
Billed To
45 Addison Road
Marrickville NSW 2204
Job Reference
EV charger install + switchboard upgrade - compliance certificate issued
Description
Rate
Qty
Amount
Call-out fee
Standard weekday call-out
Rate
$75.00
Qty
1
Amount
$75.00
Labour - switchboard upgrade
Remove old board, install 18-way consumer unit
Rate
$130.00
Qty
4.0
Amount
$520.00
Labour - EV charger installation
Run dedicated 32A circuit, mount Type 2 charger
Rate
$130.00
Qty
3.5
Amount
$455.00
18-way consumer unit
Materials at cost + margin
Rate
$580.00
Qty
1
Amount
$580.00
Cable, conduit & fittings
6mm² twin & earth, conduit, cable clips, connectors
Rate
$295.00
Qty
1
Amount
$295.00
Compliance certificate fee
Certificate issued for prescribed electrical work
Rate
$60.00
Qty
1
Amount
$60.00
Payment Details
Please pay to:
Marrickville Electrical Pty Ltd
BSB: 013-241 Acc: 8213 9905
Reference: INV-0091
Subtotal
$1,985.00
GST (10%)
$198.50
Total Due
$2,183.50
Follow these steps after every job to get paid faster and stay on the right side of the ATO.
Add your trading name, ABN, licence number, address, phone, and email at the top. If you trade as Marrickville Electrical Pty Ltd, use that - not your personal name. Your licence number confirms to the customer that the work was carried out by a qualified person.
Use a sequential number - INV-0091 after INV-0090. The invoice date is today. Set a due date (14 days is standard; 7 days is reasonable for smaller residential call-outs). Consistent numbering helps if you ever need to prove payment history.
For invoices A$1,000 or more you must include the customer's identity - name and address is the simplest way to satisfy this. Do it on every job - it looks professional and removes any ambiguity if a dispute arises later.
Do not lump everything into one number. Split call-out fee, labour hours x rate, each material or fitting, any certificate fee, and any after-hours surcharge. Example: "Labour - EV charger install: 3.5 hrs x $130 = $455.00". Detailed descriptions get paid faster and reduce back-and-forth with the customer.
For prescribed electrical work, most states require a compliance or safety certificate. Reference it in the job description or notes if you issued one. If you charge a separate certificate fee, add it as its own line item - this keeps the paperwork consistent and is useful if the customer ever sells the property.
Multiply your subtotal by 0.10 to get the GST amount. Show subtotal, GST, and total as three separate lines - never just a single total. Use the free Invio GST calculator at /gst-calculator-au if you want a quick check before sending.
Include your BSB and account number, and ask the customer to use your invoice number as the payment reference. Then send it the same day. "Pay to: Marrickville Electrical Pty Ltd, BSB 013-241, Acc 8213 9905, Ref: INV-0091" is all you need. If you use Invio, hit send from your phone before you pull out of the driveway.
These mistakes slow payment, create disputes, or put you offside with the ATO. Easy to fix once you know them.
No ABN on the invoice
e.g. Invoice with only a business name, no ABN
A tax invoice without an ABN is not legally valid, and clients paying you without a quoted ABN may be required to withhold tax. Always show your ABN clearly on the invoice header.
No compliance certificate reference on prescribed work
e.g. "EV charger installed - $1,050" with no certificate mention
If you issued a compliance or safety certificate, reference it on the invoice. Customers may need this for their records, insurance, or a future sale of the property.
Wrong or missing GST
e.g. "Total: $2,183" with no GST line
Show subtotal, 10% GST, and GST-inclusive total as three separate lines. Commercial customers need this to claim GST credits.
Materials and labour lumped together
e.g. "Switchboard upgrade - materials and labour: $1,600"
List parts separately from labour. Many customers - especially commercial ones - will not approve payment until the invoice is properly itemised. It also protects you if there's a warranty question later.
No BSB or bank details
e.g. Invoice sent with no payment instructions
Always include your BSB and account number, and ask for the invoice number as the payment reference. No bank details means slow or lost payments.
Sending days after the job
e.g. Invoice sent a week after the switchboard work
Send it the same day. Every day you wait, the chance of a prompt payment drops.
These are the line items most Australian sparkies use. Rates vary - metro areas tend to run higher than regional centres.
Line Item
Typical AU Rate
Notes
Standard labour rate
$100 - $160/hr
Ex GST. Sydney and Melbourne run higher; regional Australia lower.
After-hours / weekend labour
1.5x - 2x standard
State clearly in your quote. A $130/hr sparky charges $195-$260/hr after-hours.
Call-out fee
$70 - $120 flat
Charged per visit to cover travel and mobilisation. Some sparkies waive it for regulars.
Materials markup
Cost + 20 - 30%
Covers handling, warranty, and supplier runs. List parts at your sell price - you don't need to show your cost.
Compliance certificate fee
$50 - $90 flat
For prescribed electrical work. Some sparkies include it in labour; others list it separately.
Disposal / waste fee
$40 - $70 flat
For removing old switchboards, cables, or fittings that need safe disposal.
GST
10% on all items
Applied to the subtotal if you are GST-registered. Use the free /gst-calculator-au to check.
GST example: Sparky A bills $130/hr labour + $75 call-out + materials at cost +25%. For a 2-hour job with $260 in materials: ($260 + $75 + $325) = $660 subtotal. GST: $66.00. Total: $726.00. Use the GST calculator to check your numbers before sending.
Templates are a fine starting point. But most electricians move to proper software once they're running 10+ jobs a month.
Fill in labour hours, materials, and call-out fee before you drive off. No paperwork to chase at the end of the week, and the customer gets the invoice while the job is still fresh.
Invio does the 10% for you on every line item and shows subtotal, GST, and total correctly - no spreadsheet formula to accidentally break.
Store your repeat customers and standard labour rate. Next job for the Oseis? Two taps and the invoice is half-filled already.
Invio Pro sends automatic follow-ups when invoices go overdue - so you are not the one making awkward calls. Fewer late payments, less chasing.
Every Invio invoice has the right fields: ABN, GST breakdown, date, customer identity when required. You can't accidentally send a non-compliant invoice.
Send the invoice by email directly from Invio, or download a clean PDF if the customer prefers paper. It's not a Word doc that looks different on every printer.
Start with the free AU invoice template, or sign up to Invio and send your first electrical invoice in under two minutes - GST calculated, ABN and BSB saved, and the PDF ready to email before you leave the site.
Common questions from Australian sparkies about invoicing, GST, and getting paid.
Invio is free for sole traders. Set up your electrical rates once, send GST-compliant tax invoices from site with your ABN and BSB saved, and let automatic reminders handle the chase - free on your first 3 invoices, unlimited on Pro.
Free to start - GST calculated automatically - No credit card required