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Plumber Invoice Template AustraliaFree, ATO-Compliant & Ready to Use

A free plumbing invoice template for Australian sole traders and small plumbing businesses. Covers labour, call-out fees, parts markup, ABN, and 10% GST - so you get paid correctly after every job. Or skip the template and use Invio to invoice straight from your phone.

No credit card - GST calculated automatically - Send from your phone

ATO Requirements

What Goes on a Plumber Invoice in Australia

A GST-registered plumber's tax invoice needs more than just a total. Here's what the ATO requires and what your customer needs to see.

Your business details

  • Business name (or your name if sole trader)

  • ABN - required on every tax invoice

  • Phone number and email

  • Physical or postal address

Invoice identifiers

  • Invoice number (sequential, for your records)

  • Invoice date

  • Payment due date

  • BSB and bank account for payment

Job and line items

  • Description of work done - be specific, e.g. "Replace hot water system - 250L electric"

  • Labour hours x hourly rate

  • Call-out fee (if applicable)

  • Parts at cost + markup, listed separately

  • Any after-hours or weekend surcharge

  • Your licence number, if your state requires it on invoices

GST breakdown

  • Subtotal (ex GST)

  • GST amount at 10%

  • Total amount payable (inc GST)

  • Customer name and identity (required for invoices A$1,000 or more)

Not GST-registered yet?

If your plumbing business earns under A$75,000/year you do not have to register for GST. In that case, 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.

Sample Invoice

What a Plumbing Invoice Looks Like

A realistic example for a residential hot water system replacement job in Melbourne.

INV-0052.pdf

Thornbury Plumbing Pty Ltd

22 Bell Street
Thornbury VIC 3071
ABN: 51 824 753 556
0412 345 678

Tax Invoice

Invoice No.

INV-0052

Issue Date

17 Jul 2026

Due Date

31 Jul 2026

Billed To

Craig & Louise Marsh

9 Wattle Grove
Preston VIC 3072

Call-out fee

Standard weekday call-out

Rate

$65.00

Qty

1

Amount

$65.00

Labour - hot water system replacement

Remove old unit, install new 250L electric system

Rate

$135.00

Qty

3.5

Amount

$472.50

250L electric hot water system

Parts at cost + margin

Rate

$850.00

Qty

1

Amount

$850.00

Copper fittings & sundries

Connectors, tape, flux

Rate

$40.00

Qty

1

Amount

$40.00

Disposal fee - old unit

Transfer station drop-off

Rate

$40.00

Qty

1

Amount

$40.00

Payment Details

Please pay to:
Thornbury Plumbing Pty Ltd
BSB: 063-000 Acc: 4829 1055 6
Reference: INV-0052

Subtotal

$1,467.50

GST (10%)

$146.75

Total Due

$1,614.25

Want this pre-filled with your business name, ABN, BSB, and rates?

Step-by-Step

How to Fill Out a Plumbing Invoice

Follow these steps after every job to get paid faster and stay on the right side of the ATO.

1

Fill in your business details

Add your trading name, ABN, address, phone, and email at the top. If you work as Thornbury Plumbing Pty Ltd, use that - not your personal name. Your ABN must appear on every tax invoice you issue.

2

Set the invoice number and dates

Use a sequential number - INV-0052 after INV-0051. The invoice date is today. Set a due date (14 days is standard for most plumbing jobs; 7 days is fine for smaller residential call-outs). Consistent numbering helps if you ever need to prove payment history.

3

Add the customer details

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 for every job anyway - it looks professional and avoids disputes about who the invoice is addressed to.

4

List every line item separately

Do not lump everything into one line. Split call-out fee, labour hours x rate, each material or part, any disposal costs, and any after-hours surcharge. Example: "Labour - hot water system replacement: 3.5 hrs x $135 = $472.50". Specific descriptions get paid faster.

5

Calculate GST and show it clearly

Multiply your subtotal by 0.10 to get the GST amount. Show subtotal, GST, and total as three separate lines. Use the free Invio GST calculator at /gst-calculator-au if you want a quick check before sending.

6

Add your BSB and bank account details

Include your BSB and account number, and ask the customer to use your invoice number as the payment reference. This saves you matching payments later. "Pay to: Thornbury Plumbing Pty Ltd, BSB 063-000, Acc 4829 1055 6, Ref: INV-0052" is all you need.

7

Send it the same day

Email the invoice before you leave the site or at the end of the day. Customers are most likely to pay quickly when the job is fresh. If you use Invio, you can send it from your phone in the van before driving off - no paperwork to chase at the end of the week.

Watch Out For

Common Plumbing Invoice Mistakes

These mistakes slow payment, trigger disputes, or create ATO headaches. Easy to fix once you know them.

Wrong or missing GST

e.g. "Total: $1,614" with no GST line

Show subtotal, 10% GST, and GST-inclusive total as three separate lines - or the statement "Total price includes GST". Customers need this to claim GST credits back.

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.

Vague job description

e.g. "Plumbing work - $800"

Describe what you actually did: "Replace burst 15mm copper pipe under kitchen sink - 1.5 hrs labour + parts". Vague descriptions invite disputes.

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 reference. No bank details means slow or lost payments.

Parts and labour lumped together

e.g. "Materials and labour: $960"

List parts separately from labour. Many customers want to see exactly what they paid for - and some commercial clients will not pay until it is itemised.

Sending days or weeks later

e.g. Invoice sent 10 days after the job

Send it the same day. Every day you wait, it gets easier for the customer to delay.

Line Item Guide

Plumber-Specific Line Items

These are the line items most Australian plumbers use. Adjust the rates to match your market - metro areas run higher than regional centres.

Standard labour rate

$100 - $150/hr

Ex GST. Metro areas tend to run higher; regional Australia lower.

After-hours / weekend labour

$150 - $220/hr

Or standard rate + 50-100% surcharge. State clearly in your quote.

Call-out fee

$60 - $100 flat

Charged per visit to cover travel and mobilisation.

Materials markup

Cost + 15 - 25%

Covers handling, warranty, and supplier runs. List parts at your sell price - you don't need to show your cost.

Disposal / waste fee

$40 - $70 flat

For removing old hot water systems, corroded pipe sections, etc.

GST

10% on all items

Applied to the subtotal if you are GST-registered. Use the free /gst-calculator-au to check.

GST example: Plumber A bills $130/hr labour + $65 call-out + parts at cost +20%. For a 2-hour job with $200 in parts: ($260 + $65 + $240) = $565 subtotal. GST: $56.50. Total: $621.50. Use the GST calculator to check your numbers before sending.

Invio vs Templates

Why Invio Beats Word and Excel for Plumbers

Templates are a fine starting point. But most plumbers move to proper software once they hit 10+ jobs a month.

Invoice from your phone on site

Fill in labour hours and parts before you drive off. No returning to the office, no chasing scraps of paper at the end of the week.

GST calculated automatically

Invio does the 10% for you on every line item and shows subtotal, GST, and total correctly - no spreadsheet formula to break.

Saved clients and rates

Store your repeat customers and standard labour rate. Next job for the Marshes? Two taps and the invoice is half-filled already.

Payment reminders built in

Invio Pro sends automatic follow-ups when invoices go overdue - so you are not the one making awkward calls. Fewer late payments, less admin.

ATO-compliant every time

Every Invio invoice has the right fields: ABN, GST breakdown, date, customer identity when required. You can't accidentally forget a field.

PDF ready to email or print

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.

Ready to invoice your next job properly?

Start with the free AU invoice template, or sign up to Invio and send your first plumbing invoice in under two minutes - GST calculated, ABN and BSB saved, and the PDF ready to email before you leave the driveway.

FAQ

Plumber Invoice FAQs

Common questions from Australian plumbers about invoicing, GST, and getting paid.

Do I need to add GST to my plumber invoice?
If your plumbing business is GST-registered (required once your turnover passes A$75,000/yr), yes - you must charge 10% GST and show it clearly, either as a separate amount or the statement "Total price includes GST". If you are under the threshold and not registered, you do not charge GST, and you must not use the words "Tax Invoice" - issue a plain invoice instead.
What's the minimum information a plumber invoice needs in Australia?
For sales of A$82.50 or less, a tax invoice is not required unless the customer asks for one (you then have 28 days to provide it). For sales over A$82.50 up to A$1,000, your tax invoice needs seven details: the words "Tax Invoice", your business name, your ABN, the invoice date, a description of the work, the price, and the GST amount. For A$1,000 or more, you also need the customer's identity or ABN. See the full breakdown at /tax-invoice-requirements-au.
Can I send a plumbing invoice from my phone?
Yes. Invio is built mobile-first so you can fill in labour hours, parts, and call-out fees from your van before you drive off. No laptop needed. The invoice goes straight to the customer by email with your ABN and BSB details attached.
How quickly should I send the invoice after the job?
Send it the same day wherever possible. Customers remember the job clearly and are more likely to pay promptly. Waiting a week means they have often already moved on - and disputing line items gets harder.
What if my customer disputes the invoice?
Start with a polite conversation and make sure your invoice description is specific enough to justify each charge. If you cannot resolve it, most states have a small claims tribunal or court that handles consumer disputes up to a set limit (limits vary by state - check your state's fair trading or consumer affairs website). For larger building and construction jobs, most Australian states also have Security of Payment legislation that gives you a formal payment claim process - check the specific Act in your state.
How do I charge for after-hours plumbing work?
Most Australian plumbers charge 1.5x to 2x their standard rate for evenings, weekends, and emergency call-outs - or a fixed after-hours surcharge instead. Be clear in your quote and match the invoice to what was agreed. Invio lets you set different line items for each job so nothing gets lumped together.
Do I need to give a quote before invoicing?
There is no legal requirement to quote first, but it is good practice - especially for jobs over a few hundred dollars. A signed quote protects you if the customer disputes the final invoice. For emergency call-outs, note the hourly rate at the time of booking.
Get Started

Invoice Every Plumbing Job Correctly, From Your Phone

Invio is free for sole traders. Set up your plumbing 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