The WA Government is paying eligible Perth residents up to $150 to plant a native tree. This guide covers every eligibility rule, every invoice requirement, and every step of the claiming process — accurately and completely.
What Is the Treebate Program?
WA Treebate 2026 is the WA Government’s $6.9 million initiative giving eligible Perth residents up to $150 back on a qualifying native tree. This guide covers every eligibility rule, every invoice requirement, and every step of the claiming process — accurately and completely.
The rebate equals the actual purchase price of the tree up to a maximum of $150. If your tree costs $80 you receive $80. If it costs $200 you receive $150.
The program runs until late 2029. Up to 10,000 rebates are released each year on a first-come, first-served basis. If the annual allocation is exhausted before you submit your claim, you can still claim next year — keep your tax invoice and plant label safe.
Who Is Eligible?
To claim Treebate you must meet all of the following:
- WA resident aged 18 or over
- Purchase made on or after 28 July 2025
- Tree purchased from a WA commercial nursery or retailer with a valid ABN
- Tree planted in the ground on your private property in WA
- One claim per person for the entire four-year program (2025–2029) — not per year
There is no household limit. Every eligible adult in a household can claim independently.
Which Trees Qualify?
The tree must meet all three of these requirements:
1. Australian native species The tree must be native to Australia. It does not need to be a WA endemic — any Australian native qualifies.
2. Mature canopy height of 3 metres or more The species must be capable of reaching at least 3 metres of canopy height when fully grown. Check the plant label at the nursery. If the label shows “Dwarf”, “Nana”, “Little”, or “Compact” — do not buy it for your Treebate claim. These cultivars typically do not reach 3m+ at maturity and DWER auditors check the plant label.
3. Purchased from a WA commercial nursery Private sales — Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree, neighbours — are not eligible. The nursery must be a WA registered business with a valid ABN.
What is not covered: Soil, mulch, stakes, fertiliser, and tools are not covered under Treebate. The rebate applies to the tree purchase only.
PSHB Biosecurity — Check Your Zone Before Buying
Perth has a permanent Polyphagous Shot-Hole Borer infestation across the entire metropolitan area. Some native species are confirmed PSHB reproductive hosts — planting them in affected zones amplifies the infestation.
Before purchasing any species, check your suburb’s zone at dpird.wa.gov.au/pshb. This takes 60 seconds and could save you from planting a species that makes the problem worse.
Use our Tree Selection Tool to get a PSHB-verified, zone-filtered shortlist for your suburb and garden size in under 2 minutes.
The Invoice — The Most Common Reason Claims Are Rejected
Getting the invoice right is critical. ServiceWA rejects claims daily for avoidable invoice errors. Here is exactly what your invoice must show.
What Your Invoice Must Include
| Field | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Document title | Must say “TAX INVOICE” — not just “receipt” |
| Invoice number | A unique serialised transaction number — not blank, not “Cash Sale” |
| Business trading name | The nursery’s registered business name |
| ABN | The nursery’s Australian Business Number |
| Purchase date | Date of purchase — must be on or after 28 July 2025 |
| Species purchased | Full botanical name — Genus species e.g. Banksia menziesii |
| Total value including GST | The amount paid including GST |
| Payment status | Payment in full — nil balance owing |
What Will Get Your Claim Rejected
- Handwritten invoice or any handwritten addition 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 full botanical name
- Invoice dated before 28 July 2025
- Balance owing shown on invoice
Step-by-Step Claiming Guide
Step 1 — Choose Your Tree
Select an Australian native species that reaches 3m+ at maturity. Check your PSHB zone before purchasing. Use the Tree Selection Tool for a verified shortlist.
Step 2 — Buy From a WA Commercial Nursery
Purchase your tree from a WA commercial nursery with a valid ABN. Ask the nursery to provide a compliant tax invoice showing all mandatory fields before you leave.
Step 3 — Photograph the Plant Label
Take a clear photo of the plant label at the nursery showing the species name. If there is no label on the pot, check the shelf display or ask nursery staff. Keep this photo — you need it to submit your claim.
The plant label must show the scientific name or common name of the tree — either is acceptable. When uploading files to ServiceWA, ensure each file is under 10MB. Accepted formats are JPEG, PNG, TIFF, GIF, and HEIC.
If your species cannot be found in the ServiceWA app dropdown when submitting, email your plant label photo directly to support@digital.wa.gov.au — include a clear photo of your plant label showing the name of the tree.
Step 4 — Plant the Tree
Plant the tree in the ground on your private property before submitting your claim. Pot plants do not qualify. Verge trees do not qualify.
Step 5 — Download the ServiceWA App
Available on the App Store and Google Play. Search “ServiceWA.” You need a myID account at Standard identity strength or above to submit a claim. Set this up at myid.gov.au if you do not have it.
Step 6 — Submit Your Claim
In the ServiceWA app:
- Tap the Discovery tab
- Tap Offers
- Select Treebate
- Upload your tax invoice and plant label photo
- Enter your bank account details
- Submit
Step 7 — Receive Your Rebate
Once approved, payment is typically made within 7 business days to your nominated bank account. Payment may arrive before the notification — check your bank account.
Understanding Your Claim Status
PENDING — Claim received and under review. No action required.
APPROVED — Claim approved. Payment processing. Allow at least 7 business days.
DECLINED — Claim not approved. Check your ServiceWA Inbox for the reason. You can revise and resubmit if eligible. Common reasons: handwritten invoice, missing ABN, species name not in botanical format, EFTPOS receipt submitted.
FULFILLED — Payment successfully made to your bank account.
Households With Multiple Adults
Every eligible adult in a household can claim independently. If you purchase multiple trees in one transaction, multiple household members can each claim for a different tree line item on the same invoice — each person submits their own separate claim through their own ServiceWA account.
💡 Pro Tip: If you and your partner are claiming separate trees on a single shared invoice, upload the exact same invoice file through each of your individual ServiceWA accounts. Make sure the nursery itemises each tree as a separate line item on the invoice before you leave the store.
A household of three eligible adults purchasing three trees has a combined rebate potential of up to $450.
Alternative — Paper Claim Form
If you cannot use the ServiceWA app, download a paper claim form from wa.gov.au/treebate. 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. Translated forms are available from the DWER Treebate page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I claim more than once? No. One claim per person for the entire four-year program (2025–2029). Not per year — once for the whole program.
What if the annual allocation runs out before I claim? You can still claim next year. Keep your tax invoice and plant label safe. The claim does not expire.
Does the rebate cover soil, mulch, or stakes? No. Treebate covers the tree purchase only. If you have had a tree removed due to PSHB under DPIRD authority, the separate WA Tree Recovery Program may cover establishment items — see our Treebate vs WA Tree Recovery Program guide.
Can I claim for a tree in a pot? No. The tree must be planted in the ground on your private property.
What if my species is not in the ServiceWA app dropdown? Email support@digital.wa.gov.au with a clear photo of your plant label showing the name of the tree. This is the correct contact for ServiceWA app queries.
Can I use a paper receipt from the nursery? Only if it meets all the requirements of a tax invoice — including TAX INVOICE as the document title, invoice number, ABN, full botanical name, and nil balance owing. An EFTPOS receipt alone is not sufficient.
Key Contacts
| Contact | |
|---|---|
| Treebate program | treebate@dwer.wa.gov.au |
| ServiceWA support | 13 33 92 (24/7) |
| DWER direct | +61 8 6364 7000 |
| PSHB zone check | dpird.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.
For species-specific guides see:
- Best Native Trees for Perth Gardens
- Top 10 Native Trees for Perth Backyards
- Top 10 Native Trees for Small Perth Backyards
Treebate program information verified against DWER Treebate FAQ (updated 18 September 2025), ServiceWA Treebate page (updated 12 March 2026), DWER Treebate program documentation (updated 26 March 2026), and DWER official written confirmation (Adele Gismondi, Urban Greening, DWER, 23 May 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.