Invoicing in India

How to invoice in India

INR, GST, GSTIN, HSN and SAC codes, IFSC and UPI. The fields a GST invoice needs and how place of supply changes the tax line.

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The shape of a GST invoice in India

The CGST rules set out what a GST tax invoice must contain. The substance is stable:

•Your business name, address, and GSTIN
•A unique invoice number (within a consecutive series for the financial year)
•The date of issue
•The customer's name, address, and GSTIN (for B2B)
•HSN or SAC codes per line (goods or services)
•Description, quantity, unit price, and taxable value per line
•Place of supply (which determines whether you charge CGST + SGST or IGST)
•The tax rate, tax amount split (CGST/SGST or IGST), and the total in INR
•Signature of the supplier (digital is acceptable)

For the authoritative current rules, see GST Council: official portal.

The India-specific fields JupiterInvoice handles

GSTIN, HSN, SAC, place of supply

Save your GSTIN once and it appears on every invoice. Per-line HSN or SAC codes, place of supply per invoice, and CGST/SGST vs IGST handled by your supplier and customer state.

INR, IFSC, UPI

Bank fields include account number and IFSC for NEFT, RTGS, and IMPS. UPI ID field for instant pay. Click-to-copy on all of them.

Cross-border in USD or EUR

Plenty of Indian SaaS, services, and freelance work is exported in USD or EUR. Multi-currency invoices with proper export classification, plus SWIFT details, for international clients.

Learn more →

The bits that actually slow Indian invoices down

GST adds genuine substance to an Indian invoice. The format is more involved than most countries.

Wrong CGST/SGST vs IGST

Intra-state supplies attract CGST + SGST; inter-state and exports attract IGST. Getting this wrong on the invoice creates real reconciliation pain. JupiterInvoice exposes the place-of-supply field per invoice so this is explicit.

Missing HSN or SAC codes

GST invoices need the HSN code for goods and SAC code for services on each line, with the level of detail varying by turnover. Recipient editing lets your customer fix their GSTIN if it is wrong, without you reissuing.

e-Invoicing and IRN

Above a turnover threshold, B2B invoices must be reported to the IRP and carry an IRN (Invoice Reference Number) and QR code. We do not generate the IRN today; for businesses below the threshold, a standard GST invoice is the right format.

Export invoicing

Export of services attracts zero-rated supply rules and either an LUT or IGST refund mechanism. The invoice wording is different ('Export of services under LUT, without payment of IGST') and we let you set it per invoice.

Indian invoicing FAQ

Do I need to be GST-registered to send an invoice in India?

No. Any business can issue an invoice. GST registration becomes mandatory once your turnover crosses the GST-set threshold (different thresholds apply for goods, services, and special-category states). Below the threshold you issue a Bill of Supply rather than a Tax Invoice and do not charge GST.

What is the difference between a Tax Invoice and a Bill of Supply?

A Tax Invoice is issued by a GST-registered taxpayer for taxable supplies and includes GST. A Bill of Supply is issued for exempt supplies, by composition scheme taxpayers, or by unregistered persons, and does not include GST. The required fields are similar, but the document title and tax handling differ.

Do I need HSN or SAC codes on my Indian invoice?

HSN codes for goods and SAC codes for services are required on GST invoices, with the number of digits depending on your turnover. Larger businesses report at 6 or 8 digits, smaller ones at fewer. The codes also drive correct GST rates.

When do I charge CGST + SGST vs IGST?

If the place of supply and the supplier are in the same state, you charge CGST + SGST (split equally). If they are in different states, or the transaction is an inter-state supply, you charge IGST. Exports are zero-rated under specific mechanisms.

Can I invoice an Indian client in a foreign currency?

For domestic supplies, invoices must generally be in INR. For exports and overseas customers, foreign currency invoices are standard and necessary. JupiterInvoice supports multi-currency and historical FX by invoice date.

How should an Indian client pay an invoice?

For domestic B2B: NEFT, RTGS, IMPS, or UPI, using the account number plus IFSC code. UPI is increasingly common for smaller invoices. For overseas clients: SWIFT details. Cards via Stripe / Razorpay are typical for smaller B2C invoices.

A note on what this is. This page is a plain-English orientation to GST invoicing in India, not tax advice. The authoritative source for current rules is the GST Council and the CBIC. For anything that materially affects your GST position, talk to a Chartered Accountant.