How to claim Treebate correctly is the difference between $150 in your bank account and an automatic rejection. The WA Government’s Treebate program pays up to $150 back on a qualifying native tree — but the invoice requirements are specific and claims are rejected for avoidable reasons every day. This guide covers every step correctly.
Before You Go to the Nursery — Three Things to Confirm
1. Check your PSHB zone.
Before choosing a species, check your suburb’s zone at dpird.wa.gov.au/pshb. Some native species are restricted in the Management Zone and Containment Zone. Getting this wrong wastes your one rebate claim — the Treebate is once per person for the entire four-year program, not per year.
2. Confirm the species reaches 3m+ at maturity.
The tree must be an Australian native species with a mature canopy height of at least 3 metres. Check the plant label at the nursery. If the label says “Dwarf”, “Nana”, “Little”, or “Compact” — do not buy it for your Treebate claim. DWER auditors check the plant label.
3. Choose a WA commercial nursery.
The tree must be purchased from a WA commercial nursery or retailer with a valid ABN. Private sales — Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree, neighbours — are not eligible.
Use our Tree Selection Toolto get a PSHB-verified, zone-filtered shortlist before you leave the house.
At the Nursery — What You Need Before You Leave
The invoice is the most common reason claims are rejected. ServiceWA is strict. Here is exactly what your invoice must show.
What Your Invoice Must Include
FieldRequirementDocument titleMust say “TAX INVOICE” — not just “receipt”Invoice numberA unique serialised transaction identifier — cannot be blank or say “Cash Sale”Business trading nameThe nursery’s registered business nameABNThe nursery’s Australian Business NumberPurchase dateThe date you bought the tree — must be on or after 28 July 2025Species purchasedFull botanical name — Genus species e.g. Banksia menziesiiTotal value including GSTThe amount you paid including GSTPayment statusMust show payment in full — nil balance owing
What Will Get Your Claim Rejected
Handwritten invoice or any handwritten additions to a printed invoice
EFTPOS receipt only — this is not a tax invoice
Screenshot of a bank transaction
Invoice in a language other than English
Species listed as “native tree” or “gum tree” without the botanical name
Invoice dated before 28 July 2025
The plant label. Photograph it at the nursery before you leave. You need a clear photo showing the species name. If there is no label on the pot, check the shelf display. Ask nursery staff. If your verified native species is not appearing in the app’s dropdown menu, do not abandon the claim. Email your plant label photo and invoice directly to treebate@dwer.wa.gov.au for manual review by the DWER program team.
File size. Photos must be under 10MB. Accepted formats: JPEG, PNG, TIFF, GIF, HEIC. Most smartphone photos are well within these limits.
At Home — Plant the Tree First
The tree must be planted in the ground on your private property before you submit your claim. Pot plants do not qualify. Verge trees do not qualify — verges are managed by your local council.
Submitting Your Claim — ServiceWA App
Step 1 — Download the ServiceWA App
Available on the App Store and Google Play. Search “ServiceWA.”
Step 2 — Set Up myID at Standard Level
You need a myID account at Standard identity strength or above to submit a Treebate claim. If you do not have myID set up, go to myid.gov.au and complete the verification process before attempting to claim.
Step 3 — Open the Treebate Offer
In the ServiceWA app:
Tap the Discovery tab
Tap Offers
Find and select Treebate
Step 4 — Complete the Claim Form
You will need to provide:
Your tax invoice (upload as a photo or PDF)
Your plant label photo
Your bank account details for payment
Step 5 — Submit
Once submitted you will receive a confirmation. Your claim status will update in the ServiceWA app.
Understanding Your Claim Status
ServiceWA shows four status states. Here is what each one means and what to do.
PENDING
Your claim has been received and is under review. No action required. You cannot submit another Treebate claim while this one is pending.
APPROVED
Your claim has been approved. Payment is being processed to your nominated bank account. Allow at least 7 business days. Payment may arrive before the notification — check your bank account.
DECLINED
Your claim was not approved. Check your ServiceWA Inbox — the reason for the decline is included in the message. If you are eligible, you can revise your application and resubmit. Common decline reasons:
Handwritten invoice or handwritten addition to any field
Missing ABN
Species name not in full botanical format
EFTPOS receipt submitted instead of tax invoice
Tree does not reach 3m+ at maturity
FULFILLED
Payment has been successfully made to your bank account. Check your bank at least one week before the date stated in your approval message — payment often arrives earlier.
If Your Claim Is Declined — What to Do
A declined claim is not the end. If you are eligible, DWER allows you to revise and resubmit.
Open your ServiceWA Inbox — read the reason for decline
Fix the specific issue identified — most commonly an invoice problem
If the species name cannot be found in the app — email support@digital.wa.gov.au with a photo of your plant label
Resubmit your revised claim
If you need assistance contact ServiceWA Customer Care on 13 33 92 (24 hours, 7 days) or email treebate@dwer.wa.gov.au.
Alternative — Paper Claim Form
If you cannot use the ServiceWA app, a paper claim form is available.
Download the form from wa.gov.au/treebate
If you cannot download it, email treerecovery@dwer.wa.gov.au to request a copy
Translated forms are available for applicants who prefer to claim in a language other than English
Post your completed form with 100 points of identification to:
Treebate
WAIVPAY Limited
PO Box R1691
Royal Exchange NSW 1225
Paper claims take up to 30 days to process. Updates are sent via email rather than through the ServiceWA Inbox.
Key Rules — Quick Reference
RuleDetailHow many claimsOnce per person for the entire 2025–2029 program — not per yearHousehold limitNone — every eligible adult can claim independentlyShared invoiceMultiple household members can use the same invoice — each claiming a different tree line itemAnnual allocation10,000 rebates per year — if exhausted, you can claim next year. Keep your invoice and plant label safe.Rebate amountActual purchase price up to $150 maximum — tree cost onlyWhat is not coveredSoil, mulch, stakes, fertiliser, tools — tree onlyPot plantsNot eligible — must be planted in ground on private propertyPrivate salesNot eligible — must be purchased from a WA commercial nurseryEarliest purchase dateOn or after 28 July 2025Program end dateLate 2029
Households With Multiple Adults
Every eligible adult in a household can claim independently. If you purchase multiple trees in one transaction on a single invoice, multiple people in the household can each claim for a different tree line item on that invoice — each person submits their own separate claim.
For a household of three eligible adults purchasing three trees — potential combined rebate is up to $450.
💡 Pro Tip — Shared Invoice: If you and your partner are claiming separate trees on a single shared invoice, you must upload the exact same invoice file twice — once through each of your individual ServiceWA accounts. Make sure the nursery prints the invoice with both trees completely itemised as separate line items before you leave the store.
Key Contacts
EmailPhoneServiceWA Treebate supporttreebate@dwer.wa.gov.au13 33 92 (24/7)DWER directtreebate@dwer.wa.gov.au+61 8 6364 7000Species not found in appsupport@digital.wa.gov.au—PSHB zone queriesdpird.wa.gov.au/pshb—
Not Sure Which Tree to Choose?
Use our Tree Selection Tool— 4 questions, PSHB biosecurity filtered, verified against DPIRD WA Host List v6. Get a personalised shortlist for your zone and garden size in under 2 minutes.
Treebate program rules verified against DWER Treebate FAQ (updated 18 September 2025), ServiceWA Treebate page (updated 12 March 2026), and DWER Treebate program documentation (updated 26 March 2026). treebate.com.au is an independent guide and is not affiliated with DWER or the WA Government. Final rebate approval rests solely with DWER and ServiceWA. Always verify current requirements at wa.gov.au/treebate before purchasing.