How to Show GST on an Invoice
Show GST clearly: either list the GST amount as a separate line, or state that the total price already includes GST. Both are accepted ways to display it.
In this answer
- Learn the two standard ways to display GST
- Understand the difference between GST-inclusive and exclusive pricing
- Avoid presentation that confuses your customer
- Know where to confirm the GST rules
4 min
Make the GST unmistakable
The goal is simple: anyone reading your tax invoice should be able to see how much GST is included without doing guesswork. The ATO accepts two ways to present it. You can show the GST amount as a separate line, or you can state that the total price includes GST — for example, a note that the total includes a GST component. Either approach is fine; what matters is that the GST is clearly identifiable.
Whichever you pick, be consistent across all your invoices. A customer's accounts team processes many documents, and a predictable layout means fewer queries and faster payment.
Inclusive vs exclusive pricing
There are two common ways to price. With GST-exclusive pricing you quote a price and add GST on top, so the customer sees the subtotal, the GST, then the grand total. With GST-inclusive pricing your quoted figure already contains GST, so the invoice notes the GST component within the total rather than adding it on.
Business-to-business sellers often quote ex-GST because their customers can claim the GST back; consumer-facing sellers often quote GST-inclusive prices. Neither is more 'correct' — pick the convention that suits your market and apply it consistently. The actual GST rate and rounding conventions are set by the ATO, so confirm the current detail rather than relying on a figure from memory.
Layout that reads cleanly
A tidy GST presentation usually flows top to bottom: line items, a subtotal, the GST line, then the total payable. Avoid burying the GST inside a line description or leaving the reader to back-calculate it. If you offer a mix of taxable and GST-free items, make it obvious which lines carry GST so the totals add up at a glance. Clear separation here prevents disputes later, especially on larger jobs where the GST figure is significant.
Get it laid out for you
Our free invoice tools handle the GST line and totals so the presentation is consistent, and what a tax invoice must include covers the surrounding fields.
This is general information only, not tax or legal advice. GST rates, rounding and presentation rules are set by the ATO and can change — confirm the current requirements with the ATO or your accountant.
Key takeaways
- Show GST as a separate line, or state the total includes GST.
- GST-exclusive pricing adds GST on top; GST-inclusive already contains it.
- Keep the same presentation across every invoice.
- Make taxable and GST-free lines easy to tell apart.
- Confirm the current GST rate and rounding with the ATO or your accountant.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to show the exact GST dollar amount?
You can either show the GST amount or state that the total includes GST. Both are accepted. Confirm the current requirement with the ATO or your accountant.
Should my prices include or exclude GST?
That depends on your market. Business sellers often quote ex-GST; consumer sellers often quote GST-inclusive. Choose one and apply it consistently.
What if some items are GST-free?
Make it clear which lines carry GST and which do not, so the totals reconcile. Check the treatment of specific items with the ATO or your accountant.
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