What is PayID?
PayID is part of Australia's New Payments Platform — the same rails that power fast bank transfers. Instead of giving out a BSB and account number, you link a simple PayID (your mobile number, email address, or ABN) to your bank account. Customers just enter that, see your name come up to confirm it's really you, and send the money. It clears in close to real time, 24/7, including weekends.
Why is PayID good for tradies?
It removes the friction that delays payment: hunting for your BSB, typing nine digits without a typo, then waiting overnight for the transfer to clear. More invoices get paid on the spot instead of later.
- The payer sees your name before they send — so money doesn't vanish into a mistyped account, and a customer paying you for the first time gets a moment of "yes, that's them". This is the bit an ordinary bank transfer doesn't give you.
- Free to receive — no merchant fee taking a slice of every job, unlike card.
- One line on the invoice — "PayID: 0400 000 000" beats a BSB and an account number, so more people just pay it then and there.
- Nothing for the customer to install — it's in the banking app they already have open.
- Real time, 24/7 — weekends included; the money is in your account before you've packed up the ute.
How do I set up PayID?
- Open your bank's app (most major Australian banks support PayID).
- Find PayID in the menu (often under "Pay" or "Settings").
- Choose what to register — your mobile, email or ABN — and link it to the account you want jobs paid into.
- Confirm the one-time code. That's it — you can now receive PayID payments.
Using your ABN as your PayID is the tidy option for a business — it keeps your personal mobile private and looks professional on an invoice.
Which banks let a sole trader register an ABN as a PayID?
All four majors do, and it's worth doing: your ABN on the invoice instead of your personal number, and the same ID even if you switch banks later. Checked at each bank's own PayID page on 22 September 2026:
- CommBank — a sole trader can register a mobile, email or ABN as a PayID. CommBank PayID for business
- NAB — register a phone, email or ABN as a business PayID. NAB PayID for business
- ANZ — link a mobile, email or ABN/ACN to an eligible business account. ANZ ABN/ACN PayID
- Westpac — a sole trader can use their ABN as a PayID. Westpac business PayID
Over 100 institutions support PayID in all, so most smaller banks and credit unions do too — but a few still offer only mobile and email, not ABN. If the ABN option isn't in your app, register your business email instead; it does the same job on the invoice.
PayID vs the other ways to get paid
| PayID | Bank transfer (BSB/Acc) | Card / tap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speed | Real time* | Real time* (same rails) | Instant auth |
| Fee to you | Free | Free | ~1–2% per payment |
| What the payer enters | One ID (mobile/email/ABN) | BSB + account number | Card on a reader/link |
| Name check before sending | Yes — they see your name | No | n/a |
| Works remotely | Yes | Yes | Needs a reader/link |
* PayID and an ordinary transfer both run on the New Payments Platform, so both usually land in seconds, 24/7. PayID isn't the faster one — it's the easier one to address, and the only one that shows the payer your name. Australian Payments Plus, the body behind PayID, read 22 September 2026.
What card actually costs you. Take $3,000 a month on card at 1.5% and that's about $45 a month — roughly $540 a year, gone in fees, on money the customer could have sent from their banking app for nothing. Keep card for the people who insist on it; make PayID the default line on the invoice.
How do I put PayID on my invoice?
Add a clear payment line to every invoice — e.g. "Pay by PayID: 0400 000 000 (Dave's Electrical)" — right next to the total. Our free invoice generator has a payment-details box for exactly this, and Yamate puts your PayID and a pay prompt on every invoice and reminder automatically.
Send invoices with your PayID built in — and get paid faster →Want the job before it is advertised? Homeowners post their problems in Who Do I Call? Australia, our free Facebook group. Answer one well and you are the tradie they ring. Join, help out, and put your business in front of the people asking.
Join the free group →
FAQ
Is PayID free for tradies?
Yes — it's free to register and free to receive payments. Unlike card payments, no merchant fee is taken out of what you're paid.
Can I use my ABN as a PayID?
Yes. Registering your ABN as a PayID keeps your personal number private and looks professional on invoices. Set it up in your bank's app.
How fast does PayID actually pay?
Usually within seconds, any time of day including weekends, because it runs on Australia's real-time payment rails — the New Payments Platform. Worth knowing: a normal BSB-and-account transfer runs on the same rails and is just as fast now, so PayID isn't the quicker option. What it adds is the name check and the single easy ID.
Is PayID safe?
The customer sees your registered business or account name before confirming, which helps prevent money going to the wrong place. Only share your PayID with people who are actually paying you.
Free tools to help you get paid
General information for Australian businesses, not financial advice. PayID availability and features depend on your bank — check your banking app or auspayplus.com.au.