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Free Tax Invoice Generator
A tax invoice is a billing document that itemizes the sales tax charged on a US sale, showing your customer exactly what they owe and how much of it is tax. Use this tax invoice generator to fill in your details, calculate the tax line, and preview the finished document free. No signup is needed; PDF downloads cost $2.29 per document, or are included with Unlimited.
Request payment and itemize the tax charged. Send it for a taxable sale when payment becomes due.
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Tax Invoice rules by jurisdiction
Each figure below is taken from the tax authority or statute that sets it, and links to the official page it came from so you can check it yourself.
Legally required invoice contents by jurisdiction (EU, UK, Australia, Canada, United States)
Covers the mandatory content of a standard business-to-business sales/VAT/GST invoice under each jurisdiction's core indirect-tax rule as published by the tax authority; it does not cover simplified invoices, e-invoicing mandates, sector-specific rules (margin schemes, RCTIs, self-billing detail), customs/export commercial invoices, or US state-level requirements.
| Jurisdiction | Governing rule | Mandatory elements | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jurisdiction European Union | Governing rule Council Directive 2006/112/EC, Article 226 (consolidated text in force from 01/01/2025, as amended by Directive 2010/45/EU) | Mandatory elements (1) date of issue; (2) sequential number uniquely identifying the invoice; (3) supplier's VAT identification number; (4) customer's VAT identification number where customer is liable for VAT or receives an Art. 138 supply; (5) full name and address of supplier and customer; (6) quantity and nature of goods / extent and nature of services; (7) date of supply or payment on account where it differs from date of issue; (7a) the mention 'Cash accounting' where applicable; (8) taxable amount per rate or exemption, unit price excluding VAT, and discounts or rebates not included in the unit price; (9) VAT rate applied; (10) VAT amount payable; (10a) the mention 'Self-billing' where the customer issues the invoice; (11) reference to the applicable provision where the supply is exempt; (11a) the mention 'Reverse charge' where the customer is liable for VAT; (12) characteristics of a new means of transport; (13) the mention 'Margin scheme — Travel agents'; (14) the mention 'Margin scheme — Second-hand goods' / 'Works of art' / 'Collector's items and antiques'; (15) tax representative's VAT identification number, full name and address | Notes Directive text; each Member State implements it in national law. Art. 227 lets a Member State additionally require the customer's VAT identification number in cases beyond point (4). Art. 273 does NOT permit extra invoicing obligations — it expressly states that it 'may not be relied upon in order to impose additional invoicing obligations over and above those laid down in Chapter 3'. Art. 226a allows points (8), (9) and (10) to be omitted in defined cross-border cases; Art. 226b sets the reduced content of simplified invoices; Art. 238 lets Member States, after consulting the VAT Committee, permit simplified invoices (e.g. where the invoice amount is above EUR 100 but not above EUR 400). | Source Publications Office of the European Union / EUR-Lex (Council of the European Union)Council Directive 2006/112/EC of 28 November 2006 on the common system of value added tax, Article 226 · Consolidated version in force from 01/01/2025; points (7a), (10a), (11), (11a), (13), (14) as amended by Directive 2010/45/EU (applicable from 1 January 2013) |
| Jurisdiction United Kingdom | Governing rule VAT guide (VAT Notice 700), section 16.3 'Information required on a VAT invoice', paragraph 16.3.1 'General' (HMRC guidance; underlying statutory rule is in the VAT Regulations 1995) | Mandatory elements A sequential number based on one or more series which uniquely identifies the document; the time of the supply (tax point); the date of issue of the document (where different to the time of supply); your name, address and VAT registration number; the name and address of the person to whom the goods or services have been supplied; a description sufficient to identify the goods or services supplied; for each description, the quantity of the goods or the extent of the services, the rate of VAT, and the amount payable excluding VAT; the gross total amount payable, excluding VAT; the rate of any cash discount offered; the total amount of VAT chargeable (must be expressed in sterling); the unit price | Notes Amounts excluding VAT may be expressed in any currency, but the total VAT chargeable must be in sterling. A VAT invoice must normally be issued within 30 days of the tax point arising. Where goods are supplied from Northern Ireland to a customer in an EU member state and the supply is zero-rated or exempt, the invoice must also show the reason for that. | Source HM Revenue & Customs (GOV.UK)VAT guide (VAT Notice 700), section 16 'VAT invoices', paragraph 16.3.1 · Page published 17 December 2014; last updated 25 June 2026 |
| Jurisdiction Australia | Governing rule ATO guidance 'Tax invoices' (GST); requirements detailed in GSTR 2013/1 | Mandatory elements For taxable sales of less than $1,000, enough information to clearly determine 7 details: (1) document is intended to be a tax invoice; (2) seller's identity; (3) seller's Australian business number (ABN); (4) date the invoice was issued; (5) brief description of the items sold, including the quantity (if applicable) and the price; (6) GST amount (if any) payable — shown separately, or as 'Total price includes GST' where the GST is exactly one-eleventh of the total price; (7) extent to which each sale on the invoice is a taxable sale. Sales of $1,000 or more must also show the buyer's identity or ABN. | Notes A supplier must provide a tax invoice within 28 days of a customer's request, unless the sale is $82.50 (including GST) or less. Invoices meeting the $1,000-or-more requirements may also be used for smaller sales. Digital/PDF invoices are acceptable if they carry all required information. | Source Australian Taxation OfficeTax invoices (GST), QC22438 · Page last updated 14 September 2026 |
| Jurisdiction Canada | Governing rule Input Tax Credit Information (GST/HST) Regulations, made under s. 169(4)(a) of the Excise Tax Act; set out in CRA Guide RC4022, 'Input tax credit information requirements' table | Mandatory elements Total sale under $100: supplier's business or trading name (or intermediary's name); the invoice date or, if no invoice issued, the date on which the GST/HST is paid or payable; the total amount paid or payable. Total sale of $100 to $499.99: all of the above, plus an indication of the total amount of the GST/HST charged (or that the amount paid or payable for each taxable supply, other than zero-rated supplies, includes GST/HST at the applicable rate); an indication of the status of each supply where the invoice includes both taxable and exempt supplies; the supplier's or intermediary's GST/HST registration number. Total sale of $500 or more: all of the above, plus the buyer's name or trading name (or the name of the buyer's authorized agent or representative); a brief description of the property or services; the terms of payment. | Notes These are the particulars a GST/HST registrant must give customers who are registrants so the customer can support a claim for an input tax credit or rebate. Thresholds are on the total sale amount. The $100 and $500 thresholds replaced earlier $30 and $150 thresholds as of 20 April 2021 — older CRA material, including GST/HST Memorandum 8.4 (August 2012), still shows the superseded $30 / $150 figures and should not be relied on. | Source Canada Revenue AgencyRC4022 General Information for GST/HST Registrants, 'Input tax credit information requirements'; and Excise and GST/HST News – No. 118 · Thresholds of $100 and $500 effective April 20, 2021 (previously $30 and $150); RC4022(E) Rev. 25 |
| Jurisdiction United States | Governing rule No federal statute or IRS rule prescribes the content of general commercial invoices; IRS Publication 583 treats invoices only as recordkeeping support | Mandatory elements None prescribed at federal level for general commercial invoices. IRS Publication 583 lists invoices among the documents that substantiate gross receipts and inventory, but sets no required invoice fields, format or numbering. | Notes Federal tax law governs what records a business must keep, not what an invoice must display. Separate rules can apply in specific contexts (e.g. customs commercial invoices, federal contracting, state and local requirements) and are outside this row's scope. | Source Internal Revenue ServicePublication 583, Starting a Business and Keeping Records — 'Supporting Documents' / 'Gross receipts' · IRS Publication 583 as published at the URL cited, read 2026-09-15 |
Figures confirmed against the linked official sources on . Thresholds and rates change, so check the source before relying on a figure for filing or a legal deadline. Invoity generates documents and does not provide tax, legal or accounting advice.
- The US row is marked verified:false on purpose. Proving a negative ('no federal mandatory invoice format') requires a source that states it; IRS Publication 583 merely declines to impose one. Treat the US row as unsourced and drop it if the table requires affirmative citation.
- Canada: CRA's own GST/HST Memorandum 8-4 is still published on canada.ca dated August 2012 and shows the superseded $30/$150 thresholds. The current figures are $100/$500, effective April 20, 2021. Anyone spot-checking this table against Memorandum 8-4 will see a conflict; RC4022 and Excise and GST/HST News No. 118 are the current authority.
- The EU row cites the Directive, which is not directly binding on businesses. Invoicing obligations bite through each Member State's implementing national law, which may add requirements permitted by Articles 227 and 273, so the Article 226 list is a floor and a harmonised ceiling only in part — it is not a complete statement of what any single Member State requires.
- Australia's A$82.50 (GST inclusive) figure governs when a supplier must supply a tax invoice on request, not what the invoice must contain. It is easily miscaptioned as a content threshold; the content thresholds in Australia are $1,000.
- The ATO page could not be retrieved by automated fetch (persistent HTTP 403) and was read through a browser session instead. The content is quoted from the live page, but this row was not captured by the same fetch path as the others.
- UK VAT Notice 700 is HMRC guidance, not the statute; the underlying law is the VAT Regulations 1995. The guidance paragraph 16.3.1 was quoted verbatim from page source after an automated extraction of the same page returned a materially different, paraphrased list — a reminder that summarised extractions of these pages are not reliable for legal text.
- All values were read on 2026-09-15. Thresholds and particulars change; the EU consolidated text cited is the version in force from 01/01/2025 and later amendments (including EU ViDA e-invoicing changes) are not reflected in this table.
- Simplified, low-value, retail and sector-specific invoice regimes exist in every jurisdiction listed and are excluded here; a business relying on a simplified invoice should not use these rows.
VAT / GST registration turnover thresholds by jurisdiction
Compulsory registration turnover thresholds for VAT/GST in five jurisdictions, verified against primary government or statutory sources on 15 September 2026; it does not cover voluntary registration, non-resident or digital-supply specific thresholds, deregistration rules, or sector-specific regimes such as taxi and ride-sourcing.
| Jurisdiction | Tax | Registration threshold | Period measured | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jurisdiction United Kingdom | Tax VAT | Registration threshold £90,000 taxable turnover (deregistration threshold £88,000). In force from 1 April 2024. | Period measured Rolling last 12 months, or expected turnover in the next 30 days alone | Source HM Revenue & Customs / GOV.UKRegister for VAT: When to register for VAT (GOV.UK guidance); effective date from HMRC policy paper 'Increasing the VAT registration threshold' · Effective from 1 April 2024; figure confirmed live on GOV.UK on 2026-09-15 |
| Jurisdiction Australia | Tax GST | Registration threshold A$75,000 for businesses generally; A$150,000 for non-profit bodies | Period measured GST turnover: current (the 12 months ending at the end of the month) or projected (that month plus the next 11 months) | Source Federal Register of Legislation, Office of Parliamentary Counsel (Australian Government)A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Regulations 2019, ss 23-15.01 and 23-15.02, Compilation No. 5, Authorised Version F2025C01015 · Current authorised compilation, compilation date 1 November 2025 (Compilation No. 5), registered 01/11/2025 |
| Jurisdiction Canada | Tax GST/HST | Registration threshold CAD $30,000 in taxable supplies (small supplier threshold); CAD $50,000 for public service bodies, including charities and public institutions. Charities and public institutions alternatively qualify under a separate $250,000 gross revenue test, which is not available to other public service bodies. | Period measured A single calendar quarter, or four consecutive calendar quarters (charities and public institutions: fiscal year, for the gross revenue test) | Source Canada Revenue Agency / Government of CanadaWhen to register for and start charging the GST/HST (CRA); corroborated by GST/HST Memorandum 2-2, Small suppliers · No effective date stated on the page; confirmed live on canada.ca on 2026-09-15. GST/HST Memorandum 2-2 is dated June 2026. |
| Jurisdiction European Union | Tax VAT (SME scheme) | Registration threshold No single EU figure. Each member state sets its own national exemption threshold, capped at EUR 85,000. Separately, use of the cross-border SME scheme in other member states requires Union annual turnover not exceeding EUR 100,000. | Period measured Calendar year: national annual turnover in the member state, and Union annual turnover across all member states in the current and previous calendar year | Source Publications Office of the European Union (EUR-Lex)Council Directive (EU) 2020/285 amending Directive 2006/112/EC as regards the special scheme for small enterprises — Article 284 and Article 288a of the VAT Directive · Member States 'shall apply those provisions from 1 January 2025' (Article 3(1) of Directive (EU) 2020/285) |
| Jurisdiction United States | Tax No VAT or GST; state sales and use tax | Registration threshold No federal VAT or GST exists; economic nexus thresholds are set state by state and differ. Verified example — California: USD $500,000 in total combined sales of tangible personal property for delivery into the state. | Period measured California: the preceding or current calendar year | Source California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA)General Information and Collection Requirements — Use Tax Collection Requirements Based on Sales into California Due to the Wayfair Decision · Operative 1 April 2019 (state use tax); district use tax collection requirement from 25 April 2019, per AB 147 amending Revenue and Taxation Code ss 6203 and 7262 |
Figures confirmed against the linked official sources on . Thresholds and rates change, so check the source before relying on a figure for filing or a legal deadline. Invoity generates documents and does not provide tax, legal or accounting advice.
- Australia is cited to legislation.gov.au, not ato.gov.au: every automated request to ato.gov.au returned HTTP 403 in this session, so no ATO page was read. The figures come from the current authorised compilation of the GST Regulations, which is the instrument that legally sets them, but the ATO's own guidance pages were not confirmed.
- The EU row deliberately gives no single threshold. EUR 85,000 is the maximum a member state may set under Article 284, not a figure applicable in any member state directly. Anyone needing a usable number must check the specific member state's national threshold, which was not verified here.
- The United States row is verified for California only. Other states set different economic nexus thresholds, different measurement periods, and some include transaction-count tests. Do not generalise the $500,000 figure to any other state.
- Canada's $50,000 figure applies to public service bodies and charities; the $250,000 gross revenue test is an alternative route to small supplier status for charities and public institutions, not a general business threshold. Separate threshold rules exist for non-resident digital-economy businesses and for taxi and ride-sourcing drivers and were not verified here.
- Thresholds change, sometimes at short notice and mid-year. Every figure here reflects the source pages as read on 15 September 2026 and should be re-verified against the cited URL before being relied on for a filing or registration decision.
- The UK effective date of 1 April 2024 comes from the HMRC policy paper, a different page from the live guidance page carrying the £90,000 figure; the live guidance page states no effective date.
- This table states registration thresholds only. It does not address when registration takes legal effect, deadlines to register after crossing a threshold, voluntary registration, or the consequences of late registration.
How long businesses must keep invoices, receipts and supporting financial records, by jurisdiction
Tax-authority record retention rules for business books, invoices and supporting documents in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and the European Union, as stated on the official pages fetched on 2026-09-15; it does not cover non-tax obligations (company law, employment law, industry regulators) or country-by-country EU implementations.
| Jurisdiction | Minimum retention period | What it applies to | Authority | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jurisdiction United States (federal income tax) | Minimum retention period 3 years, extended to 6 years where unreported income exceeds 25% of gross income shown on the return; 7 years for a worthless securities or bad debt claim; indefinitely if no return is filed or a fraudulent return is filed | What it applies to Records supporting an income tax return, under the period of limitations for that return | Authority IRS — How long should I keep records? | Source Internal Revenue ServiceHow long should I keep records? (Small Business/Self-Employed) · Page Last Reviewed or Updated: 30-Jun-2026 |
| Jurisdiction United States (employment taxes) | Minimum retention period At least 4 years | What it applies to Employment tax records, measured after the date the tax becomes due or is paid, whichever is later | Authority IRS — How long should I keep records? | Source Internal Revenue ServiceHow long should I keep records? (Small Business/Self-Employed) · Page Last Reviewed or Updated: 30-Jun-2026 |
| Jurisdiction United Kingdom — self-employed / sole trader | Minimum retention period At least 5 years after the 31 January submission deadline of the relevant tax year | What it applies to Business records supporting a Self Assessment tax return | Authority HMRC / GOV.UK — Business records if you're self-employed: How long to keep your records | Source HM Revenue & Customs (GOV.UK)Business records if you're self-employed: How long to keep your records |
| Jurisdiction United Kingdom — limited company | Minimum retention period 6 years from the end of the last company financial year they relate to, or longer in stated cases | What it applies to Company accounting records, including invoices, receipts, contracts, bank statements and records needed for annual accounts and the Company Tax Return | Authority HMRC / GOV.UK — Running a limited company: Company and accounting records | Source HM Revenue & Customs / Companies House (GOV.UK)Running a limited company: your responsibilities — Company and accounting records |
| Jurisdiction Canada | Minimum retention period 6 years from the end of the last tax year they relate to | What it applies to All required business records and supporting documents (books and records), unless the CRA gives written permission to destroy them earlier | Authority CRA — Where to keep your records, for how long and how to request the permission to destroy them early | Source Canada Revenue AgencyWhere to keep your records, for how long and how to request the permission to destroy them early · Date modified: 2026-08-03 |
| Jurisdiction Australia | Minimum retention period 5 years for most business records | What it applies to Most business records kept for tax, super and registration obligations; the 5 years starts from when you got the records or completed the transactions or actions they relate to, whichever is later. Some records must be kept longer — for example company records and some employee records for 7 years | Authority business.gov.au (Australian Government) — Record keeping | Source Australian Taxation OfficeOverview of record-keeping rules for business (QC60718) — Five rules for record keeping · Last updated 18 June 2026 |
| Jurisdiction European Union (VAT) | Minimum retention period No EU-wide period — each Member State sets its own storage period | What it applies to Storage of copies of invoices issued and all invoices received by a taxable person, for supplies in that Member State's territory and invoices received by taxable persons established there | Authority Council Directive 2006/112/EC (VAT Directive), Articles 244 and 247(1) | Source EUR-Lex (Publications Office of the European Union)Council Directive 2006/112/EC of 28 November 2006 on the common system of value added tax, consolidated text 02006L0112 — EN — 01.01.2025, Title XI Chapter 4 Section 3 (Articles 244, 247) · Consolidated text as at 01.01.2025 (original directive of 28 November 2006, OJ L 347, 11.12.2006, p. 1) |
Figures confirmed against the linked official sources on . Thresholds and rates change, so check the source before relying on a figure for filing or a legal deadline. Invoity generates documents and does not provide tax, legal or accounting advice.
- Every value here was read on the official page listed, fetched on 2026-09-15. Pages are updated without notice; re-verify before relying on a figure for a filing.
- The IRS periods are periods of limitations tied to a specific return, not a flat 'keep invoices for N years' rule — which period applies depends on what was reported on that return, so a business may be under several of them at once.
- The UK figures are the HMRC tax record rules. Other UK obligations (for example Companies Act and VAT record rules) can run to different lengths and are not covered here.
- The ATO page itself warns that other regulators impose longer periods — it names ASIC's 7-year requirement for companies — and that several categories (depreciating assets, CGT assets, records reused in a later return) must be kept beyond 5 years.
- The EU row is deliberately not a number: the VAT Directive sets the obligation to store invoices but Article 247(1) leaves the length to each Member State, so national periods (commonly but not universally in the 5-10 year range) must be checked in that country's own law, not inferred from the Directive.
- This table covers tax record retention only. Company law, employment law, anti-money-laundering and sector regulators frequently require longer retention for the same documents.
- Nothing here is tax or legal advice for a specific business; retention duties can be extended by an open audit, appeal, late filing or litigation hold.
Sales Tax Invoicing by the Numbers
A correct tax invoice shows your sales tax as a separate line, which protects you in an audit and helps customers reconcile what they paid. It also protects your cash flow, because a clear, itemized invoice is easier to approve and pay. That matters more than most owners expect: in Intuit QuickBooks' 2025 US Small Business Late Payments Report, based on a January 2025 survey of 2,487 US small businesses, 56% said they were owed money on unpaid invoices and 47% had invoices more than 30 days overdue. Sales tax compliance is its own cost center, too. Avalara and Wakefield Research found that emerging small businesses spend roughly $11,968 per month on sales and use tax work. Itemizing tax clearly is a small step that supports both faster payment and cleaner records.
What a Tax Invoice Is and When to Use It
A tax invoice is a sales document that separates the goods or services charge from the sales tax collected on it, so the total is fully transparent. US freelancers, contractors, and small businesses use one whenever a sale is subject to state or local sales tax and the buyer needs proof of the tax paid. It is common when selling taxable products or certain services, billing a business that tracks input costs, or supporting your own sales tax filings. Issuing a tax invoice at the point of sale keeps your books clean, helps you remit the right amount to your state, and gives the customer a clear record for their accounting and any reimbursement claims.
What to Include on a Tax Invoice
A complete tax invoice should clearly identify both parties and the tax. Include your business name, address, and Tax ID or EIN, plus the customer's name and billing address. Add a unique invoice number and the invoice date. List each line item with a description, quantity, unit price, and line total. Then show a clear subtotal (the pre-tax amount), the sales tax rate applied, the sales tax amount in USD, and the grand total. Note the tax jurisdiction if it helps, along with payment terms, due date, and accepted payment methods. Spelling out the tax rate and dollar amount separately is what distinguishes a tax invoice and makes it easy for your customer to verify the charge.
How a Tax Invoice Differs From a Regular Invoice or Receipt
A regular invoice requests payment and may simply show a total, without breaking out tax. A tax invoice goes further by stating the pre-tax subtotal, the sales tax rate, and the exact tax amount as separate lines, so the buyer sees precisely how the total was built. A receipt, by contrast, confirms that payment has already been made; an invoice is issued before or at the time payment is due. In short, the invoice asks for money and the receipt acknowledges it. A tax invoice is an invoice with the sales tax itemized, which is why it doubles as solid documentation for both your records and your customer's bookkeeping.
How to Create a Tax Invoice Free on This Page
You can make a tax invoice here without signing up. Enter your business details and Tax ID or EIN, then add the customer's information. Add each line item with its description, quantity, and price; the generator totals the subtotal for you. Enter your sales tax rate and the tool calculates the tax amount and grand total in USD automatically. Add an invoice number, date, and payment terms, then preview the layout. PDF downloads cost $2.29 per document, or are included with Unlimited.
Frequently asked questions
How do I make a tax invoice for free?
Use the generator on this page. Enter your business name and EIN, add the customer's details, list your line items, and type in your sales tax rate. The tool calculates the tax amount and total in USD. No signup is needed to create or preview; PDF downloads cost $2.29 per document, or are included with Unlimited.
What sales tax rate should I put on my tax invoice?
Use the combined state and local sales tax rate for the location where the sale is taxed, which is often the customer's address for many goods. Rates vary widely by state, county, and city across the US. Check your state's department of revenue for the current rate, and apply it only to taxable items on the invoice.
Do I need an EIN to create a tax invoice?
Not always. Sole proprietors and single-member LLCs can often use a Social Security Number, while many businesses use an EIN or a state sales tax permit number. Including a Tax ID or EIN looks more professional and helps business customers with their records. This page lets you add whichever identifier applies to your business.
What is the difference between a tax invoice and a receipt?
A tax invoice is issued to request payment and itemizes the subtotal, sales tax rate, and tax amount separately. A receipt is proof that payment has already been made. You typically send the tax invoice first; once the customer pays, a receipt confirms the transaction. Both can serve as records for accounting and tax purposes.
Can I add multiple line items and different tax treatments?
Yes. You can add as many line items as your sale requires, each with its own description, quantity, and price. The generator totals them into a subtotal and applies your sales tax rate to produce the tax amount and grand total. If some items are tax-exempt, list them separately so the taxable subtotal and the resulting sales tax stay accurate.
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