Invoicara

Free Invoice Generator for South Africa

Create and download professional South African invoices, add 15% VAT, your VAT registration number, and export a clean A4 tax-invoice PDF in seconds. Built for sole proprietors, Pty Ltd companies, and freelancers across South Africa. No sign-up, no watermark, free forever.

Create your invoice
Currency
ZAR (R)
Tax type
VAT
Price
Free

Do I need to charge VAT on a South African invoice?

You must charge VAT if you're a VAT vendor, registered with the South African Revenue Service (SARS). Registration is compulsory once your taxable turnover exceeds R1 million in any 12-month period. Voluntary registration is available from R50,000.

The standard South African VAT rate is 15% (increased from 14% in April 2018). Some supplies are zero-rated (most basic foodstuffs, exports, fuel) and others are exempt (financial services, residential rental, public transport).

In Invoicara, choose VAT as the tax type and set the rate to 15%. If you're not a VAT vendor, simply leave tax off.

South African tax invoice requirements

SARS requires a tax invoice (issued when you're VAT-registered and the supply exceeds R5,000) to include: the words "Tax Invoice", "VAT Invoice", or "Invoice" clearly displayed; the supplier's name, address, and VAT registration number; the recipient's name and address (and VAT number if registered); the date of issue; a serial number; a description of the goods or services with quantity; the amount excluding VAT; the VAT amount; and the total including VAT.

For supplies under R5,000, an abridged tax invoice with fewer fields is acceptable. For supplies under R50 no invoice is technically required, though one is always best practice.

Sole proprietors, Pty Ltd, and the VAT vendor number

Sole proprietors: use your own name (or a registered trading name) and your VAT vendor number once you're registered. Below R1 million in turnover you can stay un-registered and skip VAT entirely.

Pty Ltd companies: include your registered company name, your CIPC registration number, and your VAT number if registered. Closed Corporations (CCs), no new ones since 2011, also use the same fields with their CK number.

Add your VAT number to the Tax ID field; it prints on the downloaded PDF beneath your business address.

Payment terms and the PFMA 30-day rule

There's no statutory standard payment term in the private sector, you set what you want on each invoice. The most common terms are "Payment due within 30 days" (Net 30) or shorter for smaller suppliers.

Government clients are required by the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) to pay valid invoices within 30 days. For overdue commercial debts, the Prescribed Rate of Interest Act allows you to charge interest at the prescribed rate (currently around 11.5%) if your terms allow.

Ready to invoice in South Africa?

Fill in your details, add your items, and download a professional PDF — free, no sign-up.

Create your invoice

Invoicing in South Africa — FAQ

Is this invoice generator free for South African users?

Yes, 100% free, no sign-up, no watermark, unlimited tax invoices and abridged invoices.

Does it work with rand (R) and 15% VAT?

Yes, pick ZAR from the currency dropdown for the R symbol and South African number formatting, then set the tax to VAT at 15%.

Can I add my VAT vendor number?

Yes, pop your VAT number into the Tax ID field and it prints on the downloaded PDF beneath your business address.

Sole proprietor vs Pty Ltd, does it matter for invoicing?

Not in the tool itself. Sole proprietors use their own name plus VAT number; Pty Ltd companies use the registered company name, CIPC number, and VAT number. All go into the same fields.

What if I'm under the R1 million VAT threshold?

If you're under R1 million in taxable turnover and not voluntarily registered (available from R50,000), you don't need to charge VAT. Simply skip the tax field, your invoice shows the subtotal as the total.

Tax invoice vs abridged tax invoice, which should I send?

For supplies over R5,000 (including VAT), SARS requires a full tax invoice. Under R5,000 an abridged tax invoice with fewer fields is acceptable. Invoicara's layout works for both, fill what's relevant and skip what isn't.