When do I need the customer's VAT number on it?

For a full tax invoice, which is required above the threshold for abridged invoices. Below it you can leave the field blank, though filling it in causes no harm.

Is VAT added on top or included?

Either, as long as the invoice is clear. Both are supported — "Added on top" shows VAT as an extra line, "Already included" extracts it from the total.

What if I am not registered for VAT?

Do not charge it, leave the VAT number blank, remove the tax section, and head the document "Invoice" rather than "Tax invoice".

Tax invoice template (South Africa)

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Set up for South Africa: rand, VAT at 15%, and a VAT number field. No sign up, no account, nothing uploaded.

Heading Region Currency Paper

Your details

No logo

Upload logo Brand colour

PNG or JPG. Stays in this browser.

Your name or business name

Phone

Address

Tax ID

Bill to

Client name

Client email

Client phone

Client address

Tax ID

Invoice details

Number

Issued

Terms

Due

PO number

Line items

How to pay you

Payment details

Notes

Payment link

Late payment terms

Stored in this browser

Total —

About this document

A South African tax invoice has to be headed "Tax invoice" and show your VAT registration number along with the VAT charged. This page opens that way, in rand, with VAT labelled at 15%.

For larger supplies SARS expects a full tax invoice carrying the recipient's details and VAT number as well as your own. For smaller amounts an abridged invoice is acceptable — but including the full detail is never wrong.

What a South African tax invoice needs

The words "Tax invoice"
Your name, address and VAT registration number
The recipient's name, address and VAT number for larger supplies
A serial number and the date of issue
A description of the goods or services and the quantity
The value, the VAT, and the total — or the total with a note that VAT is included

This is general information, not tax or legal advice. Requirements differ by jurisdiction and by the kind of work you do — check with your own accountant or tax authority if anything is unclear.

Questions

When do I need the customer's VAT number on it?: For a full tax invoice, which is required above the threshold for abridged invoices. Below it you can leave the field blank, though filling it in causes no harm.
Is VAT added on top or included?: Either, as long as the invoice is clear. Both are supported — "Added on top" shows VAT as an extra line, "Already included" extracts it from the total.
What if I am not registered for VAT?: Do not charge it, leave the VAT number blank, remove the tax section, and head the document "Invoice" rather than "Tax invoice".