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GST invoice format

A tax invoice is what a GST-registered business issues when it sells taxable goods or services. Its contents are set by Rule 46 of the CGST Rules. Here is every field it must carry, an example made with InDhanPay Books, and a blank format you can print.

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What a GST tax invoice must contain (Rule 46)

Name, address and GSTIN of the supplier.
An invoice number: consecutive, up to 16 characters, using letters, digits, hyphen (-) and slash (/) only, and unique for the financial year. You may run more than one series, such as one per branch.
Date of issue.
Name, address and GSTIN (or UIN) of the recipient, if registered.
For an unregistered recipient: name, address and the delivery address with the state name and code when the taxable value is ₹50,000 or more (or below that, if the recipient asks for it).
HSN code of the goods or SAC of the services.
Description of the goods or services.
Quantity and unit (or Unique Quantity Code) for goods.
Total value of the supply.
Taxable value, after any discount or abatement.
Rate of tax: CGST, SGST or UTGST, IGST and cess where applicable.
Amount of each of those taxes.
Place of supply with the state name, for an inter-state supply.
Delivery address, where it is different from the place of supply.
Whether tax is payable on reverse charge.
Signature or digital signature of the supplier or an authorised person.

How many HSN digits? Businesses with an aggregate turnover up to ₹5 crore in the previous year must show at least a 4-digit HSN on invoices to registered buyers; above ₹5 crore, a 6-digit HSN on every invoice.

Example GST invoice made with InDhanPay Books (invented business details). Make your own.

Copies, timing and e-invoicing

Copies: for goods, three copies marked “Original for recipient”, “Duplicate for transporter” and “Triplicate for supplier”; for services, two copies (Rule 48).
When to issue: for goods, before or at the time of removal or delivery; for services, within 30 days of the supply (45 days for banks and NBFCs).
Small sales: for a supply under ₹200 to an unregistered buyer who doesn’t ask for an invoice, you may issue one consolidated invoice for the day.
E-invoicing: once your aggregate turnover has crossed ₹5 crore in any financial year since 2017-18, each B2B invoice must be reported to the Invoice Registration Portal, and the IRN and signed QR code printed on it. Separately, businesses above ₹500 crore must print a dynamic QR code on B2C invoices.

Tax invoice or bill of supply?

If you are a composition dealer, or you sell only exempt goods or services, you cannot charge GST and you issue a bill of supply instead. Before a sale, many businesses first send a quotation.

The quickest way to get the format right is to fill it in online: the free GST invoice generator prints every field above, works out CGST, SGST or IGST from the two states, and checks each GSTIN as you type. To check a rate first, use the GST calculator.

Blank GST invoice format

Every field in its place, ready to print and fill in by hand. In the print window, choose Save as PDF to keep a copy.

Tax Invoice

Original for recipient / Duplicate / Triplicate

From (supplier)

Name

Address

GSTIN

State & code

Phone / email

Details

Invoice no.

Date

Place of supply (state & code)

Reverse charge (Yes / No)

Due date

Bill to (recipient)

Name

Address

GSTIN (if registered)

State & code

Ship to (if different)

Name

Address

State & code

#	Description of goods / services	HSN / SAC	Qty	Unit	Rate	Taxable value	GST %	CGST	SGST	IGST	Amount
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

Amount in words

Bank details

Account name

Account no.

Bank & IFSC

Taxable value

CGST

SGST

IGST

Round off

Total

Terms and conditions

For (supplier name)

Authorised signatory

Blank format from books.indhanpay.com · fill it in online with the free GST invoice generator

Fill it in online instead

Frequently asked questions

Is there an official GST invoice format?

No fixed layout is prescribed. Rule 46 of the CGST Rules lists the details a tax invoice must contain; you may arrange them in any design. The blank format on this page and the free generator include all of them.

Can I issue a GST invoice without the buyer’s GSTIN?

Yes, for a buyer who is not registered. You then show their name and address, and for a taxable value of ₹50,000 or more, the delivery address with the state name and code. The buyer cannot claim input tax credit without a GSTIN on the invoice.

How long can an invoice number be?

Up to 16 characters, using letters, digits, hyphen and slash. It must be unique within the financial year, so most businesses include the year, for example INV/25-26/0042.

Is a signature mandatory on a GST invoice?

Rule 46 asks for the signature or digital signature of the supplier or an authorised representative. Invoices issued electronically under the e-invoicing system are authenticated by the IRN and the portal’s signed QR code.

Do I need to show HSN codes on every invoice?

If your turnover was above ₹5 crore last year, a 6-digit HSN is required on all invoices. Up to ₹5 crore, a 4-digit HSN is required on invoices to registered buyers and optional on invoices to consumers.

GST invoices with every field, every time

InDhanPay Books numbers your invoices, fills in GSTINs and HSN codes, and shares each invoice on WhatsApp with a payment link.

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What a GST tax invoice must contain (Rule 46)

Copies, timing and e-invoicing

Tax invoice or bill of supply?

Blank GST invoice format

Frequently asked questions

Is there an official GST invoice format?

Can I issue a GST invoice without the buyer’s GSTIN?

How long can an invoice number be?

Is a signature mandatory on a GST invoice?

Do I need to show HSN codes on every invoice?

GST invoices with every field, every time

More free GST tools

GST billing software for your business