NZ tax invoice template for tradies: GST and non-GST versions that meet the 2023 taxable supply information rules.
A two-page PDF (tax invoice for GST-registered businesses, plain invoice for those not registered) and an Excel workbook that calculates GST, totals and the amount due after a deposit. Free, no email required.
What does a tax invoice need to include in NZ?
Since 1 April 2023 the GST Act no longer requires the words ‘tax invoice’; it requires taxable supply information, and how much depends on the sale. Over $1,000: your name and GST number, the date, a description, the amount with GST shown or stated as included, and enough to identify the buyer (name and address or another identifier). Between $200 and $1,000 the buyer detail is not needed. Under $200, your name, the date, a description and the amount are enough. Keep a copy for 7 years. If you are not GST registered, say so on the invoice and charge no GST; registration is compulsory once turnover reaches $60,000 in 12 months. Across 20,286 publicly posted NZ trade reviews, transparent pricing is praised in about 23% of positive reviews and overcharging is the top complaint theme in negative ones (about 7%). The invoice is where the quote is either honoured or argued about.
The job this document is doing.
- —The invoice has no GST number on it and the customer’s accountant bounces it back a month later
- —A non-registered tradie adds 15% because the template said to, and the customer claims GST that was never paid
- —The deposit was never shown, so the final invoice looks like a double charge
- —Invoices go out at month end for jobs the customer has half forgotten
Open it and use it today.
- 01Tax invoice page: business and GST details, bill-to block with the over-$1,000 buyer identification, 5 work lines, GST at 15%, deposit and amount due, bank details
- 02Plain invoice page for businesses not registered for GST, stating that no GST is charged
- 03Both pages carry the taxable supply information rules in a box, dated
- 04Excel workbook: a sheet for each version, GST and totals calculated, due date set from the invoice date, how-to sheet
Free to use and adapt for your own business. Not legal advice: check contract terms against your own terms of trade and, where it matters, with a lawyer.
The law behind it. GST Act 1985, sections 19E to 19K (taxable supply information, from 1 April 2023) and Tax Administration Act 1994, section 22 (7-year records), as published by Inland Revenue. Checked on ird.govt.nz and legislation.govt.nz on 9 October 2026.
Why this document, and not another one.
| Trade | Transparent pricing praised | Overcharging, negative reviews | Value score (of 4 dimensions) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plumbers | 22.7% of positive reviews | About 7% (top complaint theme) | 95.5 / 100 (lowest) |
| Electricians | 22.6% of positive reviews | About 7% (top complaint theme) | 97.1 / 100 (lowest) |
| Painters | 97.8 / 100 (lowest) |
From 20,286 publicly posted reviews of 369 NZ electricians, plumbers and painters, collected August 2026. Positive reviews score 80 or more out of 100. Negative reviews score under 50 on any dimension; those samples are small (56 to 167 reviews), so negative-review figures are rounded and reported as rank order, not precision. Full corpus, method and thresholds: the trades methodology page. Full findings: the trades research study.
The questions this document answers, in full.
What Does an Invoice Need to Include in NZ? (2026 Rules)
Read the answer →How to Write an Invoice as a Tradie in NZ (GST and Non-GST)
Read the answer →Use it alongside
Overdue invoice reminder templates
Day 1, day 7, day 14 with a phone script, and a 30-day final notice, written in plain NZ English with the brackets to replace.
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