GST on Music Services in Australia: What Every Band Needs to Know
If your music income exceeds $75,000 a year, you need to register for GST and charge it on your gig fees. Here's how it works and how to quote correctly.
GST is 10% and it applies to most music services in Australia. If you earn more than $75,000 per year from your music and related activities, GST registration is mandatory. But even below that threshold, understanding how GST works is essential to quoting and invoicing correctly.
When Do You Need to Register for GST?
The ATO requires GST registration when your GST turnover (total income from all taxable supplies) reaches or is expected to reach $75,000 in a 12-month period. For musicians, this includes performance fees, recording income, teaching fees, session rates, and any other income from music-related services.
If you're close to the threshold, register proactively. Starting to charge GST mid-year without informing clients creates confusion, and the ATO expects GST to be remitted from the moment you should have been registered, even if you weren't.
How GST Affects Your Gig Quotes
There are two ways to quote when you're registered for GST. Method one: quote the ex-GST fee and add 10% on top. A $1,000 performance fee becomes $1,100 on the invoice — the client pays $1,100, you remit $100 to the ATO at BAS time and keep $1,000. Method two: quote an all-inclusive fee and specify that GST is included. A $1,100 all-inclusive fee means $1,000 is your income and $100 goes to the ATO.
Method one is cleaner for commercial clients — corporate and agency bookings expect to see ex-GST and GST as separate line items. Method two is more common for private clients (weddings, private parties) who aren't registered for GST themselves and don't need to claim it.
What Goes on a Tax Invoice?
A tax invoice (required for any GST-inclusive amount over $82.50) must include: your ABN, the words "Tax Invoice", your name or business name, the date, a description of the services, the GST-exclusive amount, the GST amount, and the total. Missing any of these means the client can't claim the GST credit — which matters for corporate clients.
How Dashplan Handles GST on Quotes and Invoices
When you build a quote in Dashplan's Quote Helper, the GST calculation is automatic. Enter your ex-GST fee and all add-ons, and Dashplan shows the GST component and the inc-GST total side by side. Push the confirmed quote to the Gig Manager and the generated invoice includes the correct GST breakdown. Read more on how GST works for musicians in Australia.
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