How to Calculate GST on a Gig Invoice

GST is 10% of the price excluding GST. Straightforward in theory, but there are two different situations you'll encounter as a working musician: quoting a price and then adding GST on top, or quoting a GST-inclusive price and working backwards to find the GST component.

Adding GST to a Price

If you quote your fee as $1,000 excluding GST, adding the 10% is simple: $1,000 × 1.10 = $1,100 total. The invoice shows three lines: fee ($1,000), GST ($100), total ($1,100).

This is the cleaner approach for corporate clients — they care about the ex-GST price because that's what they'll be claiming as a deduction. Lead with the ex-GST figure and add GST on top.

Extracting GST From a GST-Inclusive Price

If you quote a GST-inclusive price — say, the client knows they're paying $1,100 total — you extract the GST with the "divide by 11" rule: $1,100 ÷ 11 = $100 GST. The ex-GST price is then $1,100 − $100 = $1,000.

This comes up when you've already agreed a total price with the client and need to show the correct GST breakdown on the invoice. The maths is the same either way — the GST component of any GST-inclusive price is always 1/11 of the total.

What the Invoice Must Show

A valid tax invoice needs to show three separate figures: the price excluding GST, the GST amount, and the total including GST. These should be clearly labelled — typically "Fee (ex. GST)", "GST (10%)" and "Total (inc. GST)".

Showing just a total and writing "(includes GST)" is technically compliant for invoices under $1,000, but it's better practice to always show the breakdown. Your clients' accountants will appreciate it, and it reduces the chance of being asked to reissue.

When GST Doesn't Apply

If you're not registered for GST, you don't charge it and you don't show it on your invoice. The invoice simply shows the agreed fee as the total — no GST line, no "Tax Invoice" heading. Using the "Tax Invoice" label when you're not GST-registered is incorrect.

Some types of performances may also be GST-free under specific circumstances — for example, some educational performances. This is rare in the context of standard gigging, but worth checking with an accountant if you have unusual arrangements.

Letting Dashplan Do the Maths

Dashplan calculates GST automatically when you mark a gig as GST-applicable. Enter the fee — either ex-GST or inclusive — and the correct breakdown appears on the generated invoice. No manual calculation required, and the layout meets ATO requirements for a valid tax invoice.