InvioPlumber Invoice Template NZFree, GST-Compliant & Ready to Use
A free plumbing invoice template for NZ sole traders and small plumbing businesses. Covers labour, call-out fees, parts markup, and GST — so you get paid correctly after every job. Or skip the template and use Invio to invoice straight from your phone.
No credit card • GST calculated automatically • Send from your phone
What Goes on a Plumber Invoice in NZ
A GST-registered plumber's invoice needs more than just a total. Here's what IRD requires and what your customer needs to see.
Your business details
Business name (or your name if sole trader)
GST number — same as your IRD number
Phone number and email
Physical or postal address
Invoice identifiers
Invoice number (sequential, for your records)
Invoice date
Payment due date
Bank account for payment
Job and line items
Description of work done — be specific, e.g. "Replace hot water cylinder — Rheem 180L"
Labour hours × hourly rate
Call-out fee (if applicable)
Parts at cost + markup, listed separately
Any after-hours or weekend surcharge
GST breakdown
Subtotal (ex GST)
GST amount at 15%
Total amount payable (inc GST)
Customer name and address (required for invoices over $1,000)
Not GST-registered yet?
If your plumbing business earns under $60,000/year you do not have to register for GST. In that case, leave out the GST number and GST lines — just show your total. Once you cross the threshold, registration is compulsory within 21 days. Check the full NZ invoice requirements guide if you are unsure.
What a Plumbing Invoice Looks Like
A realistic example for a residential hot water cylinder replacement job in Auckland.
INV-0047.pdf
Thornton Plumbing Ltd
14 Harbour View Rd
Manukau, Auckland 2104
GST Number: 112-345-678
021 456 789
Invoice No.
INV-0047
Issue Date
27 May 2026
Due Date
10 Jun 2026
Billed To
Mark & Diane Stafford
37 Clematis Close
Papakura, Auckland 2110
Description
Rate
Qty
Amount
Call-out fee
Standard weekday call-out
Rate
$45.00
Qty
1
Amount
$45.00
Labour — HWC replacement
Remove old cylinder, install new Rheem 180L
Rate
$120.00
Qty
3.5
Amount
$420.00
Rheem 180L hot water cylinder
Parts at cost + 20% margin
Rate
$780.00
Qty
1
Amount
$780.00
Copper fittings & sundries
Connectors, tape, flux
Rate
$36.00
Qty
1
Amount
$36.00
Disposal fee — old cylinder
Transfer station drop-off
Rate
$35.00
Qty
1
Amount
$35.00
Payment Details
Please pay to:
Thornton Plumbing Ltd
06-0234-0567890-00
Reference: INV-0047
Subtotal
$1,316.00
GST (15%)
$197.40
Total Due
$1,513.40
How to Fill Out a Plumbing Invoice
Follow these steps after every job to get paid faster and stay on the right side of IRD.
Fill in your business details
Add your trading name, GST number, address, phone, and email at the top. If you work as Thornton Plumbing Ltd, use that — not your personal name. Your GST number must appear on every invoice if you're GST-registered.
Set the invoice number and dates
Use a sequential number — INV-0047 after INV-0046. The invoice date is today. Set a due date (14 days is standard for most plumbing jobs; 7 days is fine for residential call-outs). Consistent numbering helps if you ever need to prove payment history.
Add the customer details
For invoices over $1,000 you must include the customer's name and address. Do this for every job anyway — it looks professional and avoids disputes about who the invoice is addressed to.
List every line item separately
Don't lump everything into one line. Split call-out fee, labour hours × rate, each material or part, any disposal costs, and any after-hours surcharge. Example: "Labour — hot water cylinder replacement: 3.5 hrs × $120 = $420". Specific descriptions get paid faster.
Calculate GST and show it clearly
Multiply your subtotal by 0.15 to get the GST amount. Show subtotal, GST, and total as three separate lines. Use the free Invio GST calculator at /gst-calculator-nz if you want a quick check before sending.
Add your bank account details
Include your bank account number and ask the customer to use your invoice number as the payment reference. This saves you matching payments later. "Pay to: Thornton Plumbing Ltd 06-0234-0567890-00, Ref: INV-0047" is all you need.
Send it the same day
Email the invoice before you leave the site or at the end of the day. Customers are most likely to pay quickly when the job is fresh. If you use Invio, you can send it from your phone in the van before driving off — no paperwork to chase at the end of the week.
Common Plumbing Invoice Mistakes
These mistakes slow payment, trigger disputes, or create IRD headaches. Easy to fix once you know them.
Wrong or missing GST
e.g. "Total: $1,513" with no GST line
Show subtotal, 15% GST, and GST-inclusive total as three separate lines. Customers need this to claim GST back.
Vague job description
e.g. "Plumbing work — $800"
Describe what you actually did: "Replace burst 15mm copper pipe under kitchen sink — 1.5 hrs labour + parts". Vague descriptions invite disputes.
No bank details
e.g. Invoice sent with no payment instructions
Always include your bank account number and ask for the invoice number as the reference. No bank details = slow or lost payments.
Missing customer address on large jobs
e.g. $1,400 job addressed only to "Dave Smith"
IRD requires the customer's address on invoices over $1,000. Add it — it protects you in a dispute too.
Parts and labour lumped together
e.g. "Materials and labour: $960"
List parts separately from labour. Many customers want to see exactly what they paid for — and some commercial clients won't pay until it's itemised.
Sending days or weeks later
e.g. Invoice sent 10 days after the job
Send it the same day. Every day you wait, it gets easier for the customer to delay. See our guide on chasing overdue invoices at /chase-overdue-invoices-nz if it's already late.
Plumber-Specific Line Items
These are the line items most NZ plumbers use. Adjust the rates to match your market — Auckland runs higher than regional centres.
Line Item
Typical NZ Rate
Notes
Standard labour rate
$110 – $140/hr
Ex GST. Auckland tends to run higher; regional NZ lower.
After-hours / weekend labour
$160 – $200/hr
Or standard rate + 50% surcharge. State clearly in your quote.
Call-out fee
$45 – $80 flat
Charged per visit to cover travel and mobilisation.
Materials markup
Cost + 15 – 25%
Covers handling, warranty, and supplier runs. List parts at your sell price — you don't need to show your cost.
Disposal / skip fee
$30 – $60 flat
For removing old cylinders, corroded pipe sections, etc.
GST
15% on all items
Applied to the subtotal if you are GST-registered. Use the free /gst-calculator-nz to check.
GST example: Plumber A bills $120/hr labour + $45 call-out + parts at cost +20%. For a 2-hour job with $180 in parts: ($240 + $45 + $216) = $501 subtotal. GST: $75.15. Total: $576.15. Use the GST calculator to check your numbers before sending.
Why Invio Beats Word and Excel for Plumbers
Templates are a fine starting point. But most plumbers move to proper software once they hit 10+ jobs a month.
Invoice from your phone on site
Fill in labour hours and parts before you drive off. No returning to the office, no chasing scraps of paper at the end of the week.
GST calculated automatically
Invio does the 15% for you on every line item and shows subtotal, GST, and total correctly — no spreadsheet formula to break.
Saved clients and rates
Store your repeat customers and standard labour rate. Next job for Mark Stafford? Two taps and the invoice is half-filled already.
Payment reminders built in
Invio Pro sends automatic follow-ups when invoices go overdue — so you are not the one making awkward calls. Fewer late payments, less admin.
IRD-compliant every time
Every Invio invoice has the right fields: GST number, date, breakdown, customer address when required. You can't accidentally forget a field.
PDF ready to email or print
Send the invoice by email directly from Invio, or download a clean PDF if the customer prefers paper. It's not a Word doc that looks different on every printer.
Ready to invoice your next job properly?
Start with the free NZ invoice template, or sign up to Invio and send your first plumbing invoice in under two minutes — GST calculated, bank details saved, and the PDF ready to email before you leave the driveway.
Plumber Invoice FAQs
Common questions from NZ plumbers about invoicing, GST, and getting paid.
Do I need to add GST to my plumber invoice?
What's the minimum information a plumber invoice needs in NZ?
Can I send a plumbing invoice from my phone?
How quickly should I send the invoice after the job?
What if my customer disputes the invoice?
How do I charge for after-hours plumbing work?
Do I need to give a quote before invoicing?
What about the Construction Contracts Act and payment claims?
Invoice Every Plumbing Job Correctly, From Your Phone
Invio is free for sole traders. Set up your plumbing rates once, send GST-compliant invoices from site, and let Invio Pro handle overdue reminders so you get paid without the chase.
Free to start • GST calculated automatically • No credit card required