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A Shopify order printer invoice is a printed or PDF document generated by the free Shopify Order Printer app — a built-in tool that lets you produce invoices, packing slips, pick lists, and receipts directly from your store admin. If you're building or running a Shopify store in South Africa, getting this right matters twice over: once for your fulfilment workflow, and once for SARS compliance — because a Shopify-generated invoice is also a legal tax document.
The native app is free and available on every Shopify plan, but its default template is not SARS-compliant out of the box. It won't display your VAT registration number, and it won't automatically split VAT from the subtotal the way SARS requires under VAT Act No. 89 of 1991, section 20 — the governing law for tax invoices in South Africa. The iKhokha guide linked above is a plain-language summary of those requirements. This post covers the setup, the legal requirements, the Liquid edits you need, and when to replace the native app with something built for higher volumes.
Quick Answer
The Shopify Order Printer app is free, available on all plans, and lets you print customised invoices, packing slips, and pick lists from your admin in bulk (up to 50 orders per run). For South African VAT vendors, the default template needs two critical additions to be SARS-compliant: your store's VAT registration number, and a separate VAT line showing the rand amount charged at 15%. VAT Act s20 accepts three document headings — "Tax Invoice", "VAT Invoice", or plain "Invoice" — so the label itself may already be fine. Orders over R5,000 also require the customer's name, address, and VAT number if they are a registered vendor. For a store owner comfortable with basic HTML, the template edits take under 30 minutes.
In This Guide
What the Order Printer App Does
Setting Up Your Invoice Template
SARS Invoice Requirements for SA Stores
Liquid Variables Your Template Needs
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Get a Free Store ReviewWhat the Shopify Order Printer App Does (and Its Limits)
The Shopify Order Printer app prints and customises order documents directly from your store's admin, and it costs nothing to install on any Shopify plan. You can generate five document types: invoices, packing slips, pick lists, receipts, and custom inserts like gift notes or return forms — all formatted with your branding.
The practical workflow: select one or more orders in your admin, click "More actions", choose "Print with Order Printer", pick your template, and print. The bulk limit is 50 orders per print run — fine for most small to mid-size SA stores. Above that volume, you'll need to batch your prints or move to a third-party app.
| Feature | Native Order Printer | Order Printer Pro (third-party) |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | Free up to 50 orders/month; from $10/month above that |
| Bulk print limit | 50 orders per run | No per-run limit |
| Template builder | HTML / CSS / Liquid | HTML / CSS / Liquid + visual editor |
| Number of templates | Up to 15 | Unlimited |
| Email PDF to customer | No (print only) | Yes — automated |
| Document types | Invoice, packing slip, pick list, receipt, custom | Invoice, receipt, gift receipt, credit note, quote, delivery note, packing slip, refund, returns form |
| Multi-currency / multi-language | Manual via Liquid | Built-in |
| POS receipt printing | Not supported | Supported |
Note on POS: If your SA store uses Shopify POS — at a market, pop-up shop, or retail location — the native Order Printer app does not customise POS receipts. Shopify POS has its own separate receipt settings under your POS configuration.
Setting Up Your Invoice Template Step by Step
Creating a compliant invoice template in Shopify Order Printer takes four steps and requires basic comfort with HTML — you don't need Liquid experience to start, because the default template shows you exactly where each variable sits.
Step 1 — Install the app. From your Shopify admin, go to Apps and search for "Order Printer". The Shopify order printer app is free and installs in one click. Once installed, it appears under Apps in your left navigation.
Step 2 — Open Templates. Inside the app, navigate to Templates. You'll see two default templates: Invoice and Packing Slip. Click Invoice, then Edit code. This opens your Shopify invoice template in a code editor — the starting point for any customisation.
Step 3 — Add your SARS-required fields. The default template is missing your VAT registration number and the correct heading. Add these in the store header section of the template (details in the section below). Every Shopify order printer invoice you generate will then carry the legally required fields automatically.
Step 4 — Preview and save. Click Preview before saving. Shopify renders the template against a real order, so you can verify every field is pulling data correctly. Save once it looks right.
You can create up to 15 different templates — useful if you run B2C and B2B on the same store and need different document formats for each customer type.
Making Your Shopify Order Printer Invoice SARS-Compliant
A valid South African tax invoice is governed by the VAT Act, and the fields SARS requires depend on the order value — not on whether your customer is a business or a consumer. Getting this wrong means your B2B customers can't claim input tax credits, and you're exposed to a SARS query. Every Shopify order printer invoice your store generates can meet these requirements if the template is correctly set up.
| Order Total | Document Required | Mandatory Fields |
|---|---|---|
| R50 or less | Till slip or sales docket | Shows VAT was charged; no formal invoice needed |
| Over R50 up to R5,000 | Abridged Tax Invoice | "Tax Invoice", "VAT Invoice", or "Invoice" heading; your name, address, VAT registration number; sequential invoice number; date; description of goods/services; value of supply, VAT amount (15%), total including VAT |
| Above R5,000 | Full Tax Invoice | All abridged fields PLUS customer name, customer address, customer VAT registration number (if they are a VAT vendor) |
Two things the default Shopify template won't do without edits — and one common assumption worth correcting:
- Display your VAT registration number — it's not a native Shopify order field, so you either hardcode it into the template or store it in your settings and pull it via a metafield.
- Show VAT as a separate rand amount — SARS requires the VAT amount and the supply value to be shown separately, not just included in a total. The default template may show a combined total without the tax breakdown.
- The document heading is less of an issue than it seems — VAT Act s20 accepts three headings: "Tax Invoice", "VAT Invoice", or plain "Invoice". If your default template already says "Invoice", the heading itself is SARS-compliant; focus your edits on the VAT number and the separate VAT line.
If your store is not yet registered for VAT — compulsory registration applies once your taxable supplies exceed R2.3 million in any 12-month period — your invoices do not need a VAT number. You can still use the Order Printer for receipts and packing slips; just don't label them "Tax Invoice" or show a VAT charge you're not registered to collect.
Compliant template header (abridged invoice):
TRADING NAME (Pty) Ltd
123 Example Street, Johannesburg, 2001
VAT Registration No: 4123456789
— TAX INVOICE —
Invoice #{{ order.order_number }} | Date: {{ order.created_at | date: "%d %B %Y" }}
Non-compliant default:
INVOICE
Order #{{ order.name }}
[No VAT number. No separate VAT amount. No sequential invoice number distinct from the order name.]
Key Liquid Variables for SA Invoice Templates
Shopify Order Printer templates use Liquid — the same templating language as Shopify themes — and the order object gives you access to everything an SA-compliant invoice needs, except your store's own VAT number, which you add manually. The table below maps each SARS requirement to the Liquid variable that produces it, so you can build or audit your Shopify invoice template systematically.
| What You Need on the Invoice | Liquid Variable | SARS Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Store VAT registration number | Hardcode: VAT Reg No: 4123456789 | Mandatory — all tax invoices |
| Unique invoice number | {{ order.order_number }} | Mandatory — sequential; note: Shopify order numbers can contain gaps from test or cancelled orders. Verify your sequence is contiguous, or use a dedicated invoice-numbering app for strict compliance |
| Invoice date | {{ order.created_at | date: "%d %B %Y" }} | Mandatory — all tax invoices |
| Customer name | {{ order.billing_address.first_name }} {{ order.billing_address.last_name }} | Full invoice only (>R5,000) |
| Customer address | {{ order.billing_address.address1 }}, {{ order.billing_address.city }} | Full invoice only (>R5,000) |
| Customer company (B2B) | {{ order.billing_address.company }} | Full invoice — use for VAT vendor name |
| Line item description | {{ line_item.title }} | Mandatory — description of goods |
| Line item quantity | {{ line_item.quantity }} | Mandatory — quantity supplied |
| Line item price (excl. VAT) | {{ line_item.price | money }} | Needed to show value of supply |
| VAT amount on order | {{ order.tax_price | money }} | Mandatory — VAT shown separately in rands |
| VAT rate display | {{ tax_line.rate_percentage }}% | Best practice — confirms 15% |
| Order total (incl. VAT) | {{ order.total_price | money }} | Mandatory — total consideration |
Customer VAT number for full invoices: Shopify has no native "customer VAT number" field. The practical approach for B2B stores: add a cart note or custom order attribute asking for the customer's VAT number at checkout. In the template, display it via {{ order.note }} or the relevant cart attribute. For a cleaner solution, use a checkout customisation or a B2B-focused app that captures and stores this field as a metafield.
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Book a Free AssessmentWhen to Upgrade Beyond the Native Shopify Order Printer
The native Order Printer app is the right starting point for most SA stores, but four situations make a third-party app worth the monthly cost. If the free app is covering your needs, stay with it — a SARS-compliant Shopify order printer invoice costs nothing to produce once the template is set up. If your requirements grow, here is when to switch.
Not the right fit: You process more than 50 orders per print run. The native app's 50-order bulk limit means high-volume stores spend time batching. When you need to print invoices Shopify processes alongside packing documents in a single automated job, a third-party app removes that constraint and adds automated PDF emails — reducing "where's my invoice?" queries to near zero.
Not the right fit: You need to email invoices as PDFs automatically. The native app is print-only; you can't send a PDF to the customer's inbox without manually attaching one. For stores where B2B customers routinely request PDF invoices for their accounts departments, this gap creates admin overhead.
Not the right fit: You sell cross-border and need multi-currency documents. SA merchants selling internationally via Shopify Markets need invoices that reflect the transaction currency correctly. The native app handles this through manual Liquid, which is error-prone. Purpose-built apps handle currency and language switching automatically per order.
Not the right fit: Your store needs credit notes or return documents. The native Order Printer app creates invoices and packing slips, but not credit notes or formal returns documentation. The order printer packing slip template is also limited — no built-in returns form section. If your returns process requires documented credit notes — common in B2B and for compliance with the Consumer Protection Act — a third-party app provides these as standard templates.
For most SA stores processing under 500 orders per month and managing primarily B2C sales, the free native Order Printer with a SARS-compliant Liquid edit covers the full requirement. The upgrade decision is about volume, automation, and B2B document complexity — not about compliance, which you can achieve with the free app.
Why South African Businesses Choose Growth Pulse Media for Shopify
Growth Pulse Media is a registered Shopify Partner working with SA ecommerce businesses from setup through scale. Dirk van Greuning founded the agency after building and scaling a large South African ecommerce operation — so the advice here isn't abstracted from a global playbook. It's grounded in what actually happens when you're managing orders, dealing with SARS queries, and trying to grow revenue at the same time.
We run a limited client load so every store gets senior attention, not a junior account manager. Our work covers Shopify store architecture, checkout optimisation, email and paid media — all executed in-house, all focused on SA-specific platforms like PayFast, Peach Payments, Yoco, and Ozow. If your store's operations are getting in the way of your growth — whether that's invoicing admin, checkout drop-off, or acquisition that isn't converting — that's exactly the kind of problem we work on.
Who This Guide Is NOT For
Stores not registered for VAT. If your taxable supplies are below R120,000 annually (the voluntary threshold) and you haven't registered, your documents are invoices — not tax invoices. You don't need to show a VAT registration number or a 15% VAT breakdown. The Order Printer still works for receipts and packing slips; just remove the VAT fields from the template.
POS-only retailers. The Shopify Order Printer app does not customise POS receipt printing. If your business runs entirely through a physical point of sale and you need branded, compliant receipts, you'll need to configure POS receipt settings separately or use POS-compatible hardware that supports custom templates.
Businesses needing a full accounts-receivable workflow. The Order Printer generates documents for individual orders. It doesn't create statements, track outstanding balances, or integrate with accounting software like Sage, Xero, or QuickBooks. If you need a linked invoice-to-payment workflow, you'll want a dedicated accounting integration — the Order Printer is the document layer only.
Stores that want invoices sent before payment. The Order Printer generates documents from completed or in-progress orders. If your workflow requires sending a formal proforma invoice before the customer pays — common in B2B — that's handled separately through Shopify's draft order invoice feature, not the Order Printer.
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Talk to the TeamFrequently Asked Questions
Is the Shopify Order Printer app free?
Yes. The Shopify Order Printer app is free to install and use on every Shopify plan — Basic, Grow, Advanced, and Plus. There are no usage limits tied to plan tier; the only functional limit is the 50-orders-per-print-run cap for bulk printing. Third-party order printer apps charge monthly fees based on order volume if you need features the native app doesn't cover.
Does the default Shopify Order Printer invoice meet SARS requirements?
Not fully, without customisation. The default template does not display your store's VAT registration number and may not separate the VAT amount from the supply value as a distinct rand figure — both mandatory under VAT Act s20. The document heading is less of a concern: SARS accepts "Tax Invoice", "VAT Invoice", or plain "Invoice", so if your template already says "Invoice", that field is fine. The template edits needed to reach compliance are straightforward and take under 30 minutes for a store owner comfortable with basic HTML.
What is the difference between a full tax invoice and an abridged tax invoice in South Africa?
A full tax invoice is required when the total transaction value exceeds R5,000. It must include the customer's name, address, and VAT registration number (if they are a VAT vendor) in addition to all supplier details. An abridged tax invoice, used for transactions between R50 and R5,000, omits the customer's details but still requires the supplier's VAT number, a sequential invoice number, date, description of goods, and a separately stated VAT amount. SARS accepts three headings for both document types: "Tax Invoice", "VAT Invoice", or plain "Invoice". A document headed "Quote" or "Statement" is not accepted.
How do I add my store's VAT number to the Shopify Order Printer template?
Shopify does not store your VAT registration number as a native field, so the most reliable approach is to hardcode it directly into the template HTML. In your invoice template, add a line in the store header section: VAT Registration No: [your number]. If you prefer a dynamic approach, store the number in your store's address details or a shop metafield and reference it in Liquid — but hardcoding is simpler and less likely to break on a template update.
Can Shopify Order Printer email invoices as PDFs to customers?
The native Shopify Order Printer is print-only — it does not email PDFs to customers. To automate PDF invoice delivery, you need a third-party app such as Order Printer Pro, which sends a PDF invoice to the customer's email address when an order is placed or fulfilled. This is particularly useful for B2B customers who need invoices for their accounts departments without having to request them manually.
Get a Shopify Store That Scales — and Stays Compliant
Growth Pulse Media is a registered Shopify Partner working with SA ecommerce businesses on store setup, checkout optimisation, and growth marketing. We work with South African payment gateways (PayFast, Peach Payments, Ozow, Yoco), handle SARS VAT compliance considerations at the store configuration level, and run all work in-house with senior attention from day one. No obligation — we'll get back to you within 24 hours.
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