On a long job, waiting until the end to invoice kills your cash flow. Work out exactly what to claim at each stage — net of previous claims, retention and GST.
traqR lets you raise staged progress invoices against a job and tracks what’s been claimed and what’s left — so nothing gets billed twice or missed.
Start free trialMultiply the contract value by the percentage complete. That’s the total you’re entitled to have claimed so far across the whole job.
Take off everything you’ve already claimed on previous progress payments. What’s left is this claim, before retention and GST.
If the client holds retention, deduct it from this claim (you get it back at completion). Then add GST if you’re registered to get the amount payable now.
A progress claim (or progress payment) is a partial invoice raised as a larger job moves through agreed stages, rather than one bill at the end. It bills for the value of work completed to date, less what you’ve already claimed. Progress claims keep cash flowing on long jobs and are standard on construction contracts.
Value of work completed to date (contract value × % complete) minus the total already claimed on earlier payments. On a $120,000 contract that’s 45% complete with $36,000 already claimed, the work to date is $54,000, so this claim is $54,000 − $36,000 = $18,000 before retention and GST.
Retention is a percentage — often 5%, capped at a total like 5–10% of the contract — that the client withholds from each progress payment as security against defects. Half is typically released at practical completion and the balance after the defects liability period. It’s money you’ve earned but haven’t been paid yet, so track it.
Each state and territory has Security of Payment legislation that gives contractors and subbies a statutory right to progress payments and a fast process to recover them. Claims usually need specific wording and timing to be a valid “payment claim”. If you do contract work, it’s worth understanding the Act in your state.
This calculator is a general guide, not legal or financial advice. It simplifies GST timing and retention release, and doesn’t account for variations, materials on site or Security of Payment requirements. Follow your contract terms and get advice for formal payment claims.
traqR tracks what’s been claimed against each job and what’s left, so every progress invoice is right. Try it free for 14 days.