Invoice, estimate, proforma or bill of supply: which to use

4 min read · Updated October 2026

Four documents that look alike but mean different things for tax and payment.

Tax invoice

The document for a taxable sale by a registered business. It carries GST and lets a registered buyer claim input tax credit.

Estimate or quotation

A price offer before work starts. No tax is due on it and it is not a demand for payment. When the client agrees, you issue an invoice.

Proforma invoice

A preview of the final invoice, often used to collect an advance or for a buyer's internal approval. It is not a tax invoice and can't be used to claim input tax credit.

Bill of supply

Issued instead of a tax invoice by composition dealers and for exempt supplies. It has no GST charged.

How Fliss Invoice helps

Send an estimate your client can accept online, then convert it to an invoice in one click, with nothing retyped. Not registered for GST? Switch tax to "No tax" for a plain invoice.

This guide is general information to help you get started. It is not tax or legal advice; rules and rates change, so confirm details with your accountant or the official GST notifications.

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