Paperwork for Australian function venues and caterers

GST basics for venues and caterers

GST is 10%. Venue hire and food served at a function are taxable sales, because the ATO counts venues for catered functions as premises where food is consumed. Registration is required once GST turnover reaches A$75,000 (A$150,000 for not-for-profits). A tax invoice must show your ABN, and sales of A$1,000 or more must also show the buyer's identity or ABN.

The four documents behind every function

The quote at /au/quote-template is what the client signs. Under the ACCC's single price rule, any price you advertise to consumers has to show the total they will pay, GST included, so our template leads with the GST-inclusive figure.

The tax invoice at /au/tax-invoice-template is what a business client needs to claim a GST credit. It follows the ATO list: the words tax invoice, your ABN, date, description with quantity and price, the GST and the extent each item is taxable. It adds the buyer's identity for bookings of A$1,000 or more, which is almost every function.

The receipt at /au/receipt-template tracks the deposit, progress payments and the final bill, and keeps any refundable bond apart from money that pays for the function. The banquet event order at /au/banquet-event-order-template is the run sheet for the kitchen and floor: timings, room set, dietaries, allergens and bar service.

GST on room hire and catering

Australia does not have the room-hire exemption British venues argue about. Venue hire is a taxable sale at 10%. Food is more subtle because some basic food is GST-free, but the ATO says food supplied for consumption on the premises is taxable, and its definition of premises expressly includes venues for catered functions and reception lounges. When a caterer cooks in a commercial kitchen and serves at your venue, the ATO treats the food as supplied from the place where the event happens. So a wedding reception, a gala dinner or a corporate lunch is fully taxable.

You must register once your GST turnover reaches A$75,000, or A$150,000 for a not-for-profit such as a surf club or RSL, and do so within 21 days of crossing it. If you are not registered you must not call your invoice a tax invoice.

Card surcharges change on 1 October 2026

Plenty of venues add 1.5% to card payments for a balance of A$30,000. The ACCC says that from 1 October 2026 the Visa, Mastercard, American Express and eftpos networks introduce no-surcharge rules for prepaid, debit and credit cards on those networks, so businesses cannot keep surcharging those payments. You can still build the cost into your prices, offer a discount for bank transfer, and charge a hospitality weekend or public holiday surcharge. Update your quote terms before the change, not after the first client complains.

Allergens and alcohol on the night

Food Standards Australia New Zealand requires allergen information for unpackaged food to be displayed with the food or given on request, using the plain English names: milk rather than casein, and each tree nut by name. Staff selling or serving alcohol need responsible service of alcohol training; in New South Wales that means an approved course and a competency card, and other states run their own schemes.

Where Venura fits for an Australian venue

Venura is booking and billing software for function venues, banquet rooms and caterers. Australian businesses can sign up and pay in Australian dollars on a subscription, and pricing for Australia is quoted per venue. You set GST per line and print your ABN on quotes and invoices. The calendar warns you about double bookings, and one booking record produces the quote, invoice, receipts and the event sheet for the kitchen. Documents can go out by email or WhatsApp. It does not lodge your BAS, so keep your accounting software for that.

If you run several rooms or sites, each one can have its own calendar and pricing, with one view for head office.

Questions from Australia