A GST invoice format (or GST tax invoice) is the official document that a GST-registered business uses to record a sale of goods or services. It's the legal proof of transaction required under the CGST Act Section 31 and defined in GST Rule 46.
Unlike a simple bill or receipt, a GST invoice must include specific mandatory fields: seller's GSTIN, buyer's GSTIN, HSN/SAC codes, taxable value, and tax breakup (CGST, SGST, or IGST). When both seller and buyer are GST-registered, the buyer can claim Input Tax Credit (ITC) based on this invoice.
For B2C sales (buyer not GST-registered), you issue a "Bill of Supply" instead. GSTBill supports both—it automatically detects and generates the right format.
Quick fact: In India, every GST-registered business must use invoicing software or a proper format. Handwritten invoices are technically valid, but fields are often missing. GSTBill automatically ensures that all Rule 46 fields are present.
Har GST invoice mein ye fields zaroori hain. GSTBill auto-populate karta hai — aapko manually type nahi karna padta.
| S.No. | Field Name (Rule 46) | Details & Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Invoice Number | Unique number assigned by seller (e.g., INV-001). Must be in sequential order. Not auto-generated—you must assign it. |
| 2 | Invoice Date | Date on which invoice is issued (DD/MM/YYYY format). GSTBill auto-fills with today's date. |
| 3 | Seller's Legal Name | Legal name as per GSTIN registration. GSTBill auto-fetches from the GST portal when you enter the GSTIN. |
| 4 | Seller's Trade Name (if different) | Business's commonly known name. Optional. GSTBill auto-fetches this. |
| 5 | Seller's Registered Address | Full address including street, city, state, pincode. Auto-fetched by GSTIN. |
| 6 | Seller's GSTIN | 15-digit Goods and Services Tax Identification Number. E.g., 27AABCU9603R1Z0. Mandatory. |
| 7 | Seller's State Code | 2-digit state code (first 2 digits of GSTIN). E.g., 27 for Maharashtra. Auto-extracted. |
| 8 | Buyer's Legal Name | Name exactly as per buyer's GSTIN registration (if registered). GSTBill auto-fetches this. |
| 9 | Buyer's GSTIN (if registered) | 15-digit GSTIN of buyer. Mandatory for B2B. Optional for B2C (consumer). GSTBill auto-fetches this. |
| 10 | Buyer's Address | Full address including street, city, state, pincode. Auto-fetched from buyer GSTIN if B2B. |
| 11 | Buyer's State Code | 2-digit state code. Determines CGST/SGST (same state) vs IGST (different state). |
| 12 | Item Description | What is being sold (e.g., "Cotton T-Shirt, Size M"). You must enter this information. |
| 13 | HSN/SAC Code | Product classification code. 4-digit HSN for goods, 6-digit SAC for services. Example: 6204 for apparel. Mandatory if turnover exceeds 5 crore in previous fiscal year. |
| 14 | Unit of Measurement | Unit in which item is sold (pieces, kilograms, liters, etc.). Example: "10 pieces". |
| 15 | Quantity | Number of items sold. Example: 100. |
| 16 | Unit Price | Price per unit before tax. Example: 100 rupees per piece. |
| 17 | Taxable Value (per item) | Quantity × Unit Price = Taxable value per line item. |
| 18 | Total Taxable Value | Sum of all line item taxable values. Before tax. |
| 19 | GST Rate | Applicable rate: 0%, 5%, 12%, 18%, 28%, or 5% (composition scheme). Depends on HSN/product category. |
| 20 | CGST Amount (if intra-state) | Central GST. Half of total GST rate. Seller aur buyer same state mein → CGST = 50% of GST. GSTBill auto-calc karta hai. |
| 21 | SGST Amount (if intra-state) | State GST. Other half. SGST = 50% of GST. GSTBill auto-calc karta hai. |
| 22 | IGST Amount (if inter-state) | Integrated GST. Full rate if seller aur buyer different states mein. IGST = 100% of rate. GSTBill auto-calc karta hai. |
| 23 | Total Tax Amount | CGST + SGST + IGST = Total tax. Auto-calculated. |
| 24 | Grand Total (Tax Included) | Taxable value + Total tax = Amount to be paid. Auto-calculated. |
| 25 | Place of Supply | State code where delivery happens (determines which GST applies). Auto-extracted from buyer's address/GSTIN. |
| 26 | Seller's Signature or E-Signature | Authorized signatory's name and signature (wet, digital, or esign). Optional for digital invoices. |
Pro Tip: GSTBill.app ye sab fields automatically populate karta hai. Aapko sirf item details aur buyer GSTIN enter karna padta hai — baaki sab auto-fill aur auto-calculate hota hai. Ye workflow manually typing se 100x faster hai.
Download professional templates aur manually fill karo. Ya seedha WhatsApp pe generate karo — sab auto-fill hoga.
Professional, print-ready GST invoice PDF template. Rule 46 compliant fields. Manually fill, print, send via WhatsApp, email, or post.
Download PDFExcel spreadsheet template. Formulas pre-built for tax calculation. CGST/SGST/IGST auto-calc. Save, reuse, track invoices in Excel.
Download ExcelMicrosoft Word document template. Editable format. Easy to customize with company logo, address, colors. Save as PDF for sending.
Download WordMinimalist design. Fewer fields. For small traders. Still Rule 46 compliant. Easy to print and fill. No fancy formatting.
Download SimpleExcel template ko fill karte hue detailed guide. Formulas already built-in hain — sirf data enter karo.
Apne company ka GSTIN, legal name, trade name, address, state code, email, phone. Ye sab ek baar enter karo — Excel save kar lo. Agle invoices mein ye auto-populate hoga.
Har invoice ko unique number dena padta hai (sequential order mein). Date automatically set hai current date se, lekin edit kar sakte ho agar past invoice ho.
Agar buyer GST-registered hai: GSTIN enter karo — Excel formula se buyer ka legal name, address, state code automatically fetch hota hai (agar auto-fetch formula laga hai). Agar B2C hai (consumer): buyer ka naam, address manually enter karo, GSTIN blank chhod do.
Har product ke liye: Item description, HSN/SAC code, quantity, unit price. Excel formulas automatically calculate karenge taxable value per item (quantity × unit price).
Har item ke liye applicable GST rate select karo: 0%, 5%, 12%, 18%, 28%, or composition (5%). Excel dropdown mein options pre-filled hote hain.
Excel formula buyer's state code se automatically detect karta hai. Iska basis: seller ke state ≠ buyer ke state → IGST. Same state → CGST + SGST.
CGST, SGST, IGST amounts Excel formulas se auto-calculate hote hain. Har line item mein, aur total mein bhi.
Total taxable value + total tax = grand total (amount buyer ko pay karna hai). Auto-calculated.
Invoice complete ho gaya. Excel se print karo (print-friendly format already set hai) ya PDF export karo (File → Export as PDF). Email, WhatsApp, postal mail — jo bhi medium use karna ho.
GSTBill.app WhatsApp pe directly use karo. Aapko Excel khulne, formulas samajhne, manual entry karne — sab padta hai. GSTBill mein:
Buyer GST-registered hai ya nahi — ye decide karta hai aapko kaunsa format use karna hai.
Kab: Buyer GST-registered hai.
Buyer's GSTIN: Zaroori hai invoice mein.
Buyer's Address: Registered address zaroori hai.
ITC Eligible: Haan. Buyer apne input tax credit claim kar sakta hai.
HSN/SAC: Zaroori (Rule 46).
Taxable Value Breakdown: Har line item mein taxable value zaroori.
Example: B2B supplier, wholesaler, retailer — ye format inka standard invoice.
Kab: Buyer GST-registered nahi hai (consumer/end-user).
Buyer's GSTIN: Nahi chahiye (optional). Buyer ka naam, address enough hai.
Buyer's Address: Koi specific format nahi. "Mr. Raj Patel, Mumbai" chalega.
ITC Eligible: Nahi. Buyer input tax credit claim nahi kar sakta.
HSN/SAC: Optional (required sirf specific categories mein).
Taxable Value Breakdown: Simpler format ho sakta hai. GST amount clearly show karna zaroori hai, lekin CGST/SGST separation zaroori nahi.
Example: Online seller, small retail shop — ye format use kaarte hain.
Pro Tip: GSTBill.app dono formats automatically generate karta hai. Aapne buyer GSTIN enter kiya? App B2B tax invoice generate karta hai. GSTIN nahi diya? Bill of supply generate karta hai. Manual detect karna padta nahi.
Download templates are useful, lekin agar aap 10+ invoices per week generate karte ho, toh manual entry ekdum boring aur error-prone hota hai. GSTBill.app ka free online generator use karo — GSTIN auto-fill, tax auto-calculate, PDF instant.
Per invoice on GSTBill
(vs 10 min Excel)
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