International Invoice Checklist

Before you start

Invoicing an overseas customer is mostly the same as invoicing locally, but with a few added layers: which currency you bill in, how the customer will actually pay you, how GST applies to an export, and the extra friction of money crossing borders and banks. Getting these decided before you invoice avoids the awkward situation of an invoice that the customer cannot pay or that triggers unexpected fees and delays.

Before you bill, agree the currency, the payment method and who bears any transfer costs. GST on exports can differ from domestic sales, so treat the tax treatment as something to confirm rather than assume. This is general guidance, not tax or legal advice — confirm GST and any export requirements with the ATO or your accountant. See how to invoice international customers for more.

Agree currency and payment

Settle the money mechanics up front:

• Which currency the invoice is in — yours or the customer's
• How exchange-rate movement is handled if you bill in their currency
• The payment method — international transfer, an online platform, or another agreed route
• Who pays the transfer and intermediary-bank fees
• The full payment details an overseas payer needs, such as SWIFT or IBAN where relevant

Unclear payment details are the single biggest cause of an overseas invoice sitting unpaid, so be thorough here.

Get the invoice content right

Build the invoice with the international extras:

1. Include all your usual invoice fields and a unique number
2. State the currency clearly next to every amount
3. Show your ABN and business details
4. Set out the GST treatment of the export — confirm this rather than assuming
5. Note any agreement on who bears bank fees
6. Add any reference the customer's country or bank requires

Making the currency and tax treatment explicit prevents the customer's accounts team from guessing or querying.

Smooth the path to payment

Cross-border payment is slower, so reduce the friction:

• Offer a payment method that is genuinely easy for the customer's country
• Allow for longer transfer times in your follow-up timing
• Reconcile the amount received against the invoice, allowing for fees
• Keep records of the rate and any shortfall from fees
• Follow up early, as international delays compound

Expect international payments to take longer than domestic ones and build that into when you chase, rather than assuming a delay means a problem.

Common mistakes

International invoicing trips up on these:

• Missing transfer details — no SWIFT or IBAN, so the customer cannot pay
• Unstated currency — amounts the customer cannot interpret with confidence
• Assuming GST — applying domestic GST to an export without checking
• Chasing too early — treating a normal transfer delay as non-payment

Agreeing the mechanics up front fixes most of these. Whether GST applies to your overseas sales is covered in charging GST to overseas customers, and if international invoices are ageing, a free debt appraisal can help. This is general information only — confirm GST and export rules with the ATO or your accountant.