How Long Do You Have to Send an Invoice After Completing a Job in Australia?

By Dan Reeve — Working handyman and founder of SMASH Invoices. Built SMASH after losing $1,200 in uninvoiced jobs in a single year. He still takes on handyman work and uses SMASH on every job. About Dan →

There is no maximum legal time limit on sending an invoice for completed work in Australia. The ATO requires that if a customer requests a tax invoice, you must provide it within 28 days of the request. Beyond that requirement, you can invoice months or even years after completing a job, though waiting significantly increases the likelihood of customer disputes. Same-day invoicing remains the best practice regardless of the legal minimum.

The 28-day rule — what it actually means

The ATO's 28-day rule is triggered by a customer request. If a customer asks for a tax invoice, you have 28 days to provide it.

This does NOT mean you must send invoices within 28 days of completing work, it means you can't stall once they ask.

In practice, most residential customers don't formally request invoices. They expect to receive them. The obligation is professional as much as legal.

Can I invoice a job from months ago?

Yes. Australian contract law allows you to invoice completed work regardless of how much time has passed since completion.

The practical risks of delayed invoicing:

Customer dispute risk. The longer you wait, the less detail both parties remember. A customer who was happy at the time may dispute the amount six months later when they've forgotten what was agreed.

Non-payment risk. Research consistently shows payment rates drop significantly as invoice age increases. An invoice sent same-day has an 80%+ payment rate within 7 days. An invoice sent 60+ days after the job has a significantly lower collection rate.

Relationship damage. A surprise invoice months after a job feels like an ambush to many customers, even when the amount is legitimate.

The real-world consequence of waiting too long

I know this personally.

The $700 Discovery Parks job. Done on a Friday. Told myself I'd invoice that night. Then Sunday. Then two weeks. Then a month. Four months later I drove past the park and kept driving. The embarrassment had grown past the point where I could face the conversation.

The money was gone. Not because they wouldn't pay, because I never asked.

That's not a legal problem. That's a timing problem. And the only fix is invoicing at the job, before you leave, every time. Not because the law requires it, because it's the only system that actually works.

Frequently asked questions

Can I invoice a customer from 6 months ago in Australia? Yes. There is no statute of limitations on invoicing completed work under Australian contract law. However, invoicing significantly after the fact increases the risk of customer disputes about the amount and the scope. If you have documentation (quotes, photos, messages) confirming the work and agreed price, you're protected.

What is the standard payment term for trade invoices in Australia? The most common payment terms for residential trade invoices are 7 days or 14 days from invoice date. For commercial clients (property managers, body corporates), 30 days is standard. Whatever terms you set, state them clearly on the invoice — "Payment due within 7 days of invoice date."

What happens if I don't issue an invoice at all? If no invoice is issued, there's no formal payment request and no legal record of the transaction. If the customer later disputes whether work was done, you have no document to support your claim. For tax purposes, uninvoiced income still must be reported, but without an invoice, reconstruction at EOFY is difficult and unreliable.

Can customers refuse to pay an invoice issued late? Customers cannot refuse to pay for legitimately completed work solely on the grounds that the invoice was issued late. However, a late invoice may affect your ability to claim a specific amount if no written quote or agreement existed, the customer could argue the amount is unclear.

Does invoicing immediately improve payment speed? Yes. Research by Xero on Australian SME payment behaviour shows invoices sent within 24 hours of job completion are paid 14–18 days faster than invoices sent at week's end. Same-day invoicing is the single highest-impact change most sole traders can make to their cash flow.

Invoice before you leave the driveway. Every time. Start Free →

Internal links: How much are you losing on forgotten invoices? · The 20 seconds that changed how I invoice