What every SA invoice must include
- Your details — business name, address, phone and email.
- The customer's details — name, and address for larger invoices.
- A unique invoice number — sequential, so your records are clean.
- The date the invoice is issued.
- A clear description of the work or goods, with quantities and prices.
- The total, with VAT shown separately if you're registered.
- Your banking details and a payment reference.
- Payment terms — e.g. "due on completion" or "7 days".
Tax invoice template or invoice with no VAT?
Use the same layout either way. If you are registered for VAT, head it "Tax Invoice", show your VAT number and add the 15% VAT line, exactly as above. If you are not registered, head it "Invoice", leave the VAT number off and charge no VAT at all: the subtotal is the total. Charging VAT when you are not registered is not allowed, so leave that line out completely rather than showing it at 0%.
VAT-registered? Your invoice must show the words "Tax Invoice", your VAT number, and the 15% VAT — there's a stricter list. See what must be on a tax invoice.
Template vs doing it properly
A template in Word or Excel works — until you're doing ten a week, renumbering them by hand, recalculating VAT, and digging through files to see who's paid. That's the moment a template costs you more time than it saves. The faster path is software that numbers each invoice itself, adds the VAT, brands it with your logo, and tracks what's outstanding — all from your phone on the job.
Skip the template — invoice in 60 seconds
BlitzBooks builds branded, VAT-ready invoices from your phone, numbers them automatically, and shows you exactly who still owes you. Free for 7 days, cancel anytime.
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- VAT calculator — add or remove 15% VAT.
- Quote vs invoice vs pro forma — which document to send when.
- How to chase a late-paying customer.