How to invoice internationally from Australia

Key takeaways

• An international invoice needs the same core details as a domestic one, plus currency, payment terms and (for exports) GST treatment spelled out clearly.

• Exported goods and services are generally GST-free, but the invoice still needs to show this and hold up under an ATO review.

• Getting paid faster and cheaper comes down to the collection method – local account details generally beat SWIFT wires for cost and speed on repeat business.

Invoicing international clients means billing in a currency your client can pay easily, with the GST treatment for the export stated clearly. Australian goods exports were worth $46.3 billion in July 2026 alone¹. Get the currency, payment terms and GST treatment right from the first invoice, and you can avoid disputes, late payments and lost margin on the exchange rate.

This guide will take you through what you need to know to invoice international clients as an Australian business, including what to include, how they differ from domestic invoices, common mistakes to avoid and how to deal with GST.

What is an international invoice and how is it different from a domestic one?

An international invoice is a standard invoice with a few extra layers to cover currency, tax and payment methods. The core fields barely change – it's the surrounding decisions that do.

• Currency: Which currency you bill in, and who wears the FX risk if it moves before payment lands.

• Tax treatment: Exported goods and services are generally GST-free.

• Payment terms: Overseas payments clear more slowly, and clients often expect more than one way to pay.

• Compliance: Some countries expect extra detail on the invoice, such as tax IDs, country of origin or specific formatting.

Once the invoice is ready, choose a collection method that suits your client and currency. A Global Account can provide local currency account details in supported currencies, alongside other payment options.

What should you include on an invoice for an overseas client?

An invoice for an overseas client needs everything a domestic invoice has, plus the currency, GST treatment and payment instructions spelled out.

1. Your business name, ABN and address, plus the client's name and address or ABN where required, including generally for sales of A$1,000 or more

2. A unique invoice number and issue date

3. Payment due date and agreed payment terms

4. An itemised description of the goods or services, including quantity where applicable and the price

5. The currency the invoice is billed in

6. The total amount due in that currency

7. GST treatment and amount: identify GST-free items and show GST as nil or zero where applicable; for taxable supplies, show GST in AUD or provide enough information to calculate it in AUD

8. Payment instructions – account details, a payment link, or the provider you're using

9. Country of origin, where your client's customs process requires it

Most invoicing software will already prompt you for these fields, so the main job is choosing a currency and getting the GST line right.

How to invoice international clients from Australia: step by step

1. Agree the currency and payment terms before work starts, so there's no ambiguity once the invoice goes out.

2. Choose an invoicing tool with multi-currency support. Airwallex Invoicing supports invoices in more than 130 currencies and digital payment links supporting 160+ local payment methods.

3. Include all the required elements from the checklist above.

4. Confirm the GST treatment before you send the invoice, not after.

5. Send it digitally, with a payment link or account details attached.

6. Track the payment status and follow up before the due date.

7. Reconcile the payment against the invoice once it lands, recording the exchange rate, source and conversion day used for GST or BAS purposes where applicable.

Common mistakes to avoid when invoicing overseas clients

A handful of mistakes can account for the late payments and GST headaches on overseas invoices. The same principles apply in reverse if you're paying overseas suppliers, not just billing them.

• Leaving the currency ambiguous

• Treating every sale to an overseas customer as GST-free without checking the export rules

• Offering only a SWIFT wire without checking whether local payment rails are available

• Not recording the exchange rate, source and conversion day used for GST or BAS reporting

• Sending a PDF with no way to pay online

How do you deal with GST on an overseas invoice?

Exported goods and services are generally GST-free, even when you invoice in a foreign currency².

The ATO treats most exports this way because the service or goods are consumed outside Australia, not because of the currency you bill in. There are limits, though, and getting them wrong can mean re-issuing invoices or explaining yourself at an ATO review.

• Exported goods and services are generally GST-free, even when invoiced in a foreign currency

• For services, eligibility depends on the recipient’s location, where the service is used or enjoyed, and any specific exceptions. A service performed in Australia may still be GST-free in some circumstances, while services used in Australia generally are not.

• Keep evidence the sale qualifies as an export, in case of an ATO review

For GST and BAS purposes, convert foreign currency amounts to AUD using a reasonable, consistent and commercially available exchange rate – the RBA's daily rate works, as long as you record which one you used.

How do you issue an e-invoice to a foreign buyer?

Whether you can send a true Peppol e-invoice to a foreign buyer depends on whether their business is also connected to the Peppol network – it isn't limited to domestic exchange.

Peppol is an international e-invoicing standard used in more than 100 countries, including Australia, New Zealand, most of Europe, Singapore and Japan. Where both businesses are Peppol-enabled, invoices move as structured data straight between accounting systems, with no PDF or manual entry involved. But adoption still varies by country and by business, so if your client isn't set up on it, a Peppol exchange isn't possible – for that client, e-invoicing just means a digital invoice with an embedded payment link.

1. Check whether your client's business is registered on the Peppol network via the Peppol Directory, and confirm your own software is Peppol-enabled

2. If the buyer is reachable through Peppol and your provider supports the required format, send the invoice as a structured e-invoice through your accounting platform

3. If they're not, generate a digital invoice instead, attach a payment link supporting their local payment methods, and send and track it online

Which payment methods should you offer international clients?

The method you offer determines how much of the invoice value your client keeps, and how fast it lands in your account.

SWIFT can still make sense when local payment rails are unavailable or unsuitable. Compare the expected fees, timing and foreign-exchange costs before choosing it. For recurring invoices, compare local account details, payment links and SWIFT using the actual provider fees, settlement timing and client preferences.

How Airwallex can streamline your international invoicing

Airwallex brings the invoice, the collection and the FX conversion into one place, so you're not stitching together separate tools.

• Send one-time or recurring invoices with Airwallex Billing, and accept payments via 160+ local payment methods 

• Collect and hold funds in the invoice currency through Global Accounts, avoiding an automatic conversion

• Get a transparent FX margin of 0.5% on major currencies including USD, GBP and EUR, well below the 2–4% traditional banks typically charge.

• Have payments reconcile automatically against the original invoice

Open a business account and send invoices with Airwallex Billing to see the difference on your next overseas invoice.

Frequently asked questions

How do I invoice overseas customers online?

Generate an invoice with your accounting or invoicing software, then attach a digital payment link supporting your client's local payment methods. This lets the client pay in their preferred way, without a manual bank transfer, and lets you track and reconcile the payment automatically once it lands.

How do I deal with GST on an overseas invoice?

Eligible exported goods and services are generally GST-free, even when invoiced in a foreign currency. For services, apply the ATO’s recipient, use-and-enjoyment and exception rules rather than relying on the customer’s location alone.

How do I issue an e-invoice to a foreign buyer?

Peppol is an international framework used across more than 100 countries. A cross-border exchange is possible when both parties are reachable through compatible access points and specifications. Otherwise, send a conventional digital invoice with suitable payment instructions or a payment link.

Does the country of origin need to be on a commercial invoice?

It depends on your client's customs process rather than Australian invoicing rules. Some countries require the country of origin for import clearance, particularly for goods, so check with your client or their customs broker before finalising the invoice template for that market.

Can an Australian company invoice in US dollars?

Yes. You can invoice in a foreign currency, including US dollars. For taxable supplies, show GST in Australian dollars or provide the foreign-currency amount, conversion rate and other information needed to calculate GST in Australian dollars; use the relevant conversion method consistently for BAS reporting.

Sources

1. https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/economy/international-trade/international-trade-goods/jul-2026 

2. https://www.ato.gov.au/businesses-and-organisations/international-tax-for-business/australians-doing-business-overseas/exports-and-gst 

3. https://www.ato.gov.au/api/public/content/23dcd77b380e47d4ba7e71d966c56502?v=ff6e9632