South Africa VAT Tax Invoice Template
South African VAT vendors must issue a valid tax invoice so customers can claim input tax. This template lays out the fields in a clean document you can export and send.
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South Africa VAT Tax Invoice Template
TAX INVOICE
Supplier: Karoo Precision Engineering (Pty) Ltd 14 Industria Road, Boksburg, Gauteng, 1459 VAT registration number: 4123456789
Invoice details
Invoice number: INV-004218 Date of issue: 2026-10-20
Customer
Rand Mining Supplies (Pty) Ltd 7 Main Reef Road, Johannesburg, 2001 Customer VAT number: 4987654321
Supply
| Description of goods or services | Quantity | Value excl. VAT (R) |
|---|---|---|
| Machined bracket, part BRK-1001, drawing rev C | 250 | 37500.00 |
Totals
Total excluding VAT: R 37500.00 VAT at 15 percent: R 5625.00 Total including VAT: R 43125.00
Payment terms: 30 days from statement
Authorisation
This is a starting point, not legal or tax advice. A full tax invoice generally needs the words Tax Invoice, supplier and recipient details, a serial number, date, description, quantity and value, and the VAT charged. Recipient name, address and VAT number are normally required above a value threshold. Check current SARS guidance for your case.
Invoice form review
Optional: have an expert compare your ERP invoice form against the expected fields.
Optional. The tool and every export work without this. No spam.
How to use the template
Fill in the supplier and customer details, then enter the line description, quantity and amounts. The template assembles the totals block and signature lines. Calculate the VAT amount as 15 percent of the amount excluding VAT, or divide the inclusive amount by 1.15 to find the exclusive part. Export to PDF to email, or to Word to add your logo and bank details.
What a tax invoice generally contains
A valid tax invoice normally shows the words Tax Invoice, the supplier name, address and VAT number, a unique serial number, the date of issue, a description of the goods or services, the quantity or volume, and the value with the VAT charged. Where the supply is above a set value, the recipient name, address and VAT number are also shown. Amounts in foreign currency need the rand amount of VAT.
- Unique, sequential serial number
- Supplier VAT number clearly shown
- VAT amount or a statement that VAT is included
- Recipient details above the value threshold
Using it with an ERP
Most ERPs, including SYSPRO and Sage, generate compliant invoices automatically. Use this template for one-off cases, small entities without an ERP, or to compare your system output against the expected fields. If your ERP prints a tax invoice missing a field, fix the form layout rather than patching invoices by hand.
Common mistakes
Frequent errors include missing customer VAT numbers, duplicate serial numbers after a system restore, and showing only the inclusive total with no VAT amount. Credit notes also need to refer back to the original invoice number.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this template accepted by SARS?
SARS accepts any invoice that contains the required information, whatever the layout. This template includes the standard fields, but it is a starting point. Confirm requirements for your own situation, especially for foreign currency, exports and agent supplies.
How do I calculate VAT from a total that includes VAT?
Divide the inclusive amount by 1.15 to get the amount excluding VAT, then subtract to find the VAT. For example R 43,125.00 inclusive gives R 37,500.00 exclusive and R 5,625.00 of VAT.
Do I need a signature on a tax invoice?
A signature is not generally a legal requirement for a tax invoice, but many businesses keep an authorisation line for internal control and for goods received confirmation. Remove the signature block if you do not need it.
Can I use this for zero-rated exports?
Export invoices need extra details such as the customs documents and the zero rate treatment. Edit the VAT lines to show zero percent and add the export reference, and confirm the evidence rules with your adviser.
If you need invoices, credit notes and statements generated and checked directly from your ERP, Netray can help automate the review.
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