When must I register for VAT in South Africa?

You must register for VAT if your taxable turnover exceeds R1 million in any 12-month period. You may voluntarily register if turnover exceeds R50,000. Once registered, you must charge 15% VAT on all taxable supplies.

What information must a tax invoice contain?

A valid tax invoice must include: the words 'Tax Invoice', seller's name/address/VAT number, buyer's name/address, invoice date and number, description of goods/services, quantity, price excluding VAT, VAT amount, and total including VAT.

Can I issue an invoice if I'm not VAT registered?

Yes, you can issue a regular invoice (not a 'Tax Invoice'). You cannot charge or show VAT separately. Your invoice should show the total amount only, and you cannot claim input VAT on expenses.

What is the difference between 0% VAT and VAT exempt?

Zero-rated (0%) supplies are still taxable but at 0% - you can claim input VAT. Exempt supplies are not subject to VAT at all, and you cannot claim input VAT on related expenses. Examples of 0% include exports and basic foodstuffs.

How long must I keep invoice records?

SARS requires you to keep all tax records, including invoices, for at least 5 years from the date of the last entry or transaction. For disputed matters, keep records until the dispute is resolved.

Can I charge interest on late payments?

Yes, but you should state this in your payment terms. The common practice is 2% per month or the prime interest rate. Include this in your terms and conditions or on the invoice.

Do I need a VAT number for my client?

For invoices under R5,000, you don't need the recipient's VAT number. For invoices R5,000 and above, you should include the recipient's VAT number if they're VAT registered and want to claim input VAT.

What currency should my invoice be in?

You can invoice in any currency, but for SARS purposes, you must record the ZAR equivalent. For foreign currency invoices, use the exchange rate on the invoice date for VAT calculations.

How do I handle deposits or advance payments?

Issue a tax invoice when you receive the deposit (if you're VAT registered). The deposit invoice should show the VAT applicable to that amount. Issue a final invoice showing the balance when work is completed.

What if I need to correct an invoice?

Issue a credit note to cancel or reduce an invoice, or a debit note to increase it. Never delete or amend the original invoice. Credit/debit notes should reference the original invoice number.

Business & FinanceDocument Generator

Professional Invoice Generator

Generate professional tax invoices for South African businesses with automatic VAT calculation and SARS-compliant formatting.

Last reviewed 6 November 2026

Need a professional professional invoice generator for South Africa? Our free template generator creates legally compliant documents in minutes. Simply fill in your details, preview the result, and print to PDF – no registration required.

Fill in Details

Your Business Details

Business / Trading Name*

Registration / CK Number

VAT Number (if registered)

Business Address*

Phone Number

Email*

Client / Bill To

Client Name / Company*

Contact Person

Client Address

Client Email

Client VAT Number (if applicable)

Invoice Details

Invoice Number*

Invoice Date*

Due Date*

PO / Reference Number

VAT Rate*

Line Items (Enter amounts excluding VAT)

Item 1 - Description*

Item 1 - Quantity*

Item 1 - Unit Price (excl VAT)*

Item 2 - Description

Item 2 - Quantity

Item 2 - Unit Price (excl VAT)

Item 3 - Description

Item 3 - Quantity

Item 3 - Unit Price (excl VAT)

Item 4 - Description

Item 4 - Quantity

Item 4 - Unit Price (excl VAT)

Payment Details

Bank Name*

Account Holder Name*

Account Number*

Branch Code*

Account Type

SWIFT Code (for international)

Additional Notes

Live Preview

═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
                         INVOICE
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

FROM:                                    INVOICE DETAILS:
[Business Name]
                               Invoice No: [INV-001]
                               Date: 2026/11/14
[Address Line 1]                       Due Date: 2026/11/14
[Phone]                          
[Email]

───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

BILL TO:

[Client Name]

[Client Address]



═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

DESCRIPTION OF GOODS/SERVICES

┌─────┬─────────────────────────────────────┬───────┬────────────────┬────────────────┐
│ No. │ Description                         │  Qty  │   Unit Price   │   Line Total   │
├─────┼─────────────────────────────────────┼───────┼────────────────┼────────────────┤

│     │                                     │       │                │                │
│     │                                     │       │                │                │
│     │                                     │       │                │                │
│     │                                     │       │                │                │
├─────┴─────────────────────────────────────┴───────┼────────────────┼────────────────┤
│                                          SUBTOTAL │                │         R 0,00 │
├──────────────────────────────────────────────────┼────────────────┼────────────────┤
│                                     VAT @ 15% │                │         R 0,00 │
├──────────────────────────────────────────────────┼────────────────┼────────────────┤
│                                    TOTAL DUE ZAR │                │         R 0,00 │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────┴────────────────┴────────────────┘

═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

PAYMENT DETAILS:

Bank: [Bank Name]
Account Name: [Account Holder]
Account Number: [Account Number]
Branch Code: [Branch Code]
Account Type: Cheque


Reference: [Invoice Number]

───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

PAYMENT TERMS:

• Payment is due by 2026/11/14
• Please use invoice number as payment reference
• Late payments may incur interest at 2% per month



───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────


This is not a Tax Invoice as the supplier is not VAT registered.


Thank you for your business!

═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
                    [Business Name]
                    [Email]
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

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Business Applications

Freelancers and independent contractors
Small businesses needing professional documents
Startups formalizing business agreements
Consultants managing client relationships
Service providers documenting transactions

Key Advantages

Professional business appearance
Clear payment and delivery terms
Protects intellectual property
Defines scope and responsibilities
Builds trust with clients and partners

How to Use This Professional Invoice Generator

This invoice generator creates professional, SARS-compliant invoices for South African businesses and freelancers.

If you're VAT registered, the invoice will be formatted as a 'Tax Invoice' with all required fields. If not, it will be a standard commercial invoice.

Enter all amounts excluding VAT. The system will automatically calculate VAT at your selected rate and show the totals.

Always include your banking details and use consistent invoice numbering (e.g., INV-2024-001, INV-2024-002) for easy tracking.

Keep copies of all invoices for at least 5 years as required by SARS. Electronic copies are acceptable.

For recurring clients, consider setting up payment terms (e.g., 30 days) and include this information on every invoice.

Frequently Asked Questions

User Reviews

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Fill in Details

Your Business Details

Client / Bill To

Invoice Details

Line Items (Enter amounts excluding VAT)

Payment Details

Business Applications

Key Advantages

How to Use This Professional Invoice Generator

Frequently Asked Questions

1When must I register for VAT in South Africa?

2What information must a tax invoice contain?

3Can I issue an invoice if I'm not VAT registered?

4What is the difference between 0% VAT and VAT exempt?

5How long must I keep invoice records?

6Can I charge interest on late payments?

7Do I need a VAT number for my client?

8What currency should my invoice be in?

9How do I handle deposits or advance payments?

10What if I need to correct an invoice?

User Reviews