What should a plumbing invoice include?
Your company name and phone number, the customer's name and the service address, a unique invoice number, the date of the work, and one line per charge: labor (crew hours × rate, or a flat price for the job), each major fixture or appliance, smaller parts grouped on one line, and any trip or after-hours charge. Then the subtotal, sales tax where it applies, the total due, how to pay and your warranty terms. In Texas the first page must also show the Responsible Master Plumber's name and license number and the plumbing board's contact details (22 TAC §367.10(b)).
Line items plumbers actually bill
- Labor that says what was done: "Drain and remove leaking 40-gal gas water heater, set and connect new 50-gal" with crew hours in Qty tells the customer more than "Labor, 5 h". For flat-rate work, one line at the quoted price.
- The major part on its own line: water heater, toilet, faucet, disposal or sump pump with size, fuel type or model, so warranty claims are easy to match later.
- Small parts grouped: fittings, connectors, valves, supply lines and pipe on one line, unless the customer asks for every piece.
- Trip, diagnostic and after-hours charges as separate lines, so they are not buried in the labor rate.
- Permit fees, if you pull a permit for the customer, on their own line with the permit number in the description.
- Warranty and payment terms in the notes, with the date the work was done.
Texas: the license notice and the sales tax split
License notice on page one. Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners rule 22 TAC §367.10(b) says the RMP of record and the owner of a plumbing company must make sure the first page of each written or electronic proposal, invoice or contract for plumbing services shows, in at least 12-point type: (1) the first and last name of the RMP of record, (2) the RMP's license number, (3) the phrase "regulated by the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners", and (4) the board's mailing address, phone number and website (tsbpe.texas.gov). The rule applies to written estimates, service invoices, billing invoices, receipts and any other document that sets out the services and their cost (TSBPE Board Rules, March 2026 edition; official Texas Administrative Code). The same rules list leaving this information off as a Class B violation with a $1,000 guideline penalty (§367.17). The board's consumer page also tells homeowners to look for the RMP's license number and the board's contact details on the estimate and invoice, and notes that Master Plumber license numbers begin with "M".
The board moved in September 2025 from East 41st Street to 7915 Cameron Road, Austin, TX 78754, and its main number is (512) 936-5200 (TSBPE contact page). If your old invoice or estimate template still has the 41st Street address, update it. Type the notice into the License field above and InvoiceSnap prints it in 12 pt directly under your address on page one. The example uses a placeholder license number, M-00000; put your RMP's real number there.
Sales tax. The Texas Comptroller says labor to repair, remodel or restore residential real property (houses, apartments, condos, nursing homes and retirement homes, but not hotels or rentals of less than 30 days) is not taxable. On a lump-sum residential job you pay tax on materials when you buy them and do not charge the customer tax. On a separated contract you give suppliers a resale certificate and collect state and local sales tax from the customer on the materials charge, which must be at least what you paid; the labor stays untaxed. Repairing or remodeling nonresidential property such as offices, restaurants and retail shops is taxable on the total charge (Texas Comptroller publication 94-116, Real Property Repair and Remodeling). The example is a separated residential job, so it taxes the $1,300 of materials and not the $550 of labor. Texas state tax is 6.25% and local jurisdictions can add up to 2%, for a maximum combined rate of 8.25% (Texas Sales and Use Tax). San Antonio is at that 8.25%: 1.125% city, 0.375% Advanced Transportation District and 0.5% MTA (Comptroller city rate table). Check the rate for the job address before you bill.
Other states set their own license-display and sales-tax rules. This is a summary of the published Texas guidance, not legal or tax advice, so confirm with the board, the Comptroller or your accountant.
FAQ
How do I write a plumbing invoice?
Start with the service address and the date of the work, then describe the job on the labor line in plain words ("drain and remove leaking 40-gal gas water heater, set and connect new 50-gal") and put the crew hours in Qty. List the water heater, fixture or other major part on its own line with its size or model, and group fittings and small parts on one line. Add tax if it applies, write your warranty and payment terms in the notes, and set a due date ("due on receipt" is common for residential service calls). In InvoiceSnap the totals calculate as you type and the free preview PDF shows the finished layout.
What license information has to be on a plumbing invoice in Texas?
Under Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners rule 22 TAC §367.10(b), the first page of every written or electronic proposal, invoice or contract for plumbing services must show, in at least 12-point type: the first and last name of the Responsible Master Plumber (RMP) of record, the RMP's license number, the phrase "regulated by the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners", and the board's mailing address, phone number and website (tsbpe.texas.gov). The rule counts written estimates, service invoices, billing invoices and receipts. The board's penalty schedule lists leaving this off as a Class B violation with a $1,000 guideline penalty (§367.17). Type it into the License field and InvoiceSnap prints it in 12 pt under your address.
Do plumbers charge sales tax in Texas?
On residential repair work, not on the labor. The Texas Comptroller says labor to repair, remodel or restore residential real property is not taxable. Materials depend on the contract. On a lump-sum job (one price for everything) you pay tax when you buy the materials and don't charge the customer tax. On a separated contract (materials and labor billed separately) you buy materials with a resale certificate and collect state and local sales tax on the materials charge only, which must be at least what you paid for them. Repair or remodeling of nonresidential property, such as an office, restaurant or retail shop, is taxable on the total charge (Texas Comptroller publication 94-116). Other states have their own rules.
How do I charge sales tax on materials only in InvoiceSnap?
InvoiceSnap applies its Tax % field to the whole subtotal, so for a separated residential job leave Tax % at 0 and add the tax as its own line, as in the example: "TX sales tax on materials only: 8.25% of $1,300.00", Qty 1, Unit price $107.25. Materials of $1,149 plus $151 make $1,300, and 8.25% of that is $107.25, so with $550 of labor the total is $1,957.25. For a commercial job, where the whole charge is taxable in Texas, put the rate in the Tax % field instead.
Should a plumbing invoice be flat rate or time and materials?
Either works on this template. For flat-rate pricing, write the job on one labor line with Qty 1 and the price you quoted. For time and materials, put the hours in Qty and your hourly rate in Unit price (decimals such as 1.5 are fine) and list materials below. If you work in Texas, keep materials on their own lines either way when you are collecting tax on them, because only the materials charge is taxed on a separated residential job.
Is InvoiceSnap free?
Yes. You can fill in the invoice and download a watermarked preview PDF free with no signup. A clean PDF is $4 one-time for 7 days of unlimited invoices (USDC; card coming soon).
Is my data uploaded?
No. The PDF is generated in your browser; your client and pricing details are not sent to a server.
More invoice templates
Freelance invoice template (fill online → PDF) · Independent contractor invoice template · Hourly invoice template (hours worked) · Consulting invoice template · Invoice with a discount line · Invoice template for international clients · Photography invoice template · Cleaning invoice template · Landscaping & lawn care invoice template · Electrician invoice template · InvoiceSnap home