Tax paperwork is the part of STC trading nobody puts on a features page, but it decides whether payment is smooth or stuck waiting for details.
How the invoicing usually works
Most traders and agents operate on an RCTI arrangement. Rather than you raising a tax invoice for each batch of certificates, the trader creates it on your behalf from the claim data and sends it with the remittance. For that to be valid, there is normally a written RCTI agreement between you, and both parties must be registered for GST (the rules are set by the ATO). See RCTI, GST and ABN for STC payments for detail.
If the arrangement is not an RCTI, you issue the invoice yourself, which means one more task per batch and one more thing that can delay payment.
What the trader needs from you
- Your ABN, matching your business name.
- Your GST registration status.
- Bank details, verified before the first payment.
- A signed RCTI agreement or account terms.
Mismatched names or ABNs are a common reason for a held payment. See why STC payment is delayed.
What is on the invoice
A well-formed invoice shows your business name and ABN, the buyer’s details, the date, a description (such as small-scale technology certificates), the quantity, price and any GST. It should tie to the claim list, so you can reconcile each job. Keep them: they are records for your BAS and for any audit.
GST: ask your accountant
GST on certificates depends on whether you are registered, how you structure the sale and whether you also sell the system with an STC discount. Related topics are covered in GST on STC sales and charging GST on STCs. This page is general information, not tax advice.
What this means for installers
Set up the paperwork once, before your first claim: agreement signed, ABN and bank details verified. That also helps your first payment arrive on time: our first claim clears in 48 to 72 hours while we verify your details, then partners move to 24-hour settlement. See how it works, start trading, and pricing. The STC trading pillar covers the wider commercial picture.
Keeping records
Store every invoice and remittance for at least five years, the usual record-keeping period for tax. Match them to your accounting package monthly so errors surface early.
When the trader will not issue an RCTI
Some buyers ask you to invoice instead. Include your ABN, the date, quantity, price and any GST, and send it promptly after each batch so payment is not held up waiting on paperwork.