GST Invoicing & Filing
- Art Teacher
- London, UK
- 5-7 Hrs
When it comes to running a business in India, complying with GST regulations is not just important—it’s essential. One of the foundational elements of GST compliance is proper invoicing and timely filing. A GST invoice is more than just a bill; it is a legally recognized document that forms the basis for claiming input tax credit and tracking the supply of goods or services. Whether you’re a small trader or a large enterprise, issuing GST-compliant invoices ensures transparency and consistency in your tax reporting. Filing GST returns, on the other hand, is the periodic submission of data related to your sales, purchases, and taxes collected or paid. Different businesses have different filing requirements, depending on their turnover and registration type.
- GST Registration Certificate
- Sale and purchase invoices
- Debit/Credit Notes (if applicable)
- Payment receipts for advance received
- Details of Input Tax Credit (ITC)
- HSN/SAC code details
- Bank statements (for reconciliation)
- E-way bills (for transport of goods)
- Login credentials for GST Portal
- Generate a tax invoice with required details: supplier & recipient GSTIN, invoice number & date, HSN/SAC, tax rate & amount, place of supply.
- For e-invoicing (if applicable), generate IRN and QR code via IRP portal.
- Share invoice copy with customer; retain digital/hard copy.
- Login to the GST Portal: https://www.gst.gov.in
- Select the relevant return form (e.g., GSTR-1, GSTR-3B, GSTR-9).
- Upload invoice-wise data (for GSTR-1) and total tax liability (for GSTR-3B).
- Reconcile input and output taxes with GSTR-2B.
- Pay any tax liability and submit returns with DSC/EVC.
- Download and store acknowledgment for records.
FAQs
The invoice for services must be issued within 30 days from the date of supply; banks and insurers get 45 days.
E-invoicing is mandatory for businesses with turnover above Rs.5 crore per annum; it’s not required for all businesses.
GSTR-1 is a detailed return of outward sales, while GSTR-3B is a summary return of sales, purchases, and tax payments for the month.
B2B invoices are for business-to-business transactions with GST credit eligibility; B2C invoices are for sales to end consumers without GST credit.
Delivery challans are not valid as invoices except in special cases (e.g., goods transport, job work); a tax invoice is needed for final sales.
An invoice can be issued in foreign currency, but tax amounts must also be stated in INR per Indian regulations.