Free Invoice Generator for India

India's Goods and Services Tax (GST) replaced VAT, service tax, excise duty, and several other indirect taxes from 1 July 2017. You must charge GST if you're GST-registered. Registration is compulsory once your aggregate annual turnover crosses ₹20 lakh for services (₹10 lakh in special-category states) or ₹40 lakh for goods (₹20 lakh in special-category states).

GST is levied at multiple slabs: 5%, 12%, 18%, and 28%, with a compensation cess on certain luxury and sin goods. Most professional and freelance services attract 18% GST. Some supplies are zero-rated (exports) or exempt (basic essentials, certain financial services).

In Invoicara, choose GST as the tax type and set the rate to 18% for most services (or 5% / 12% / 28% as applicable). If you're under the registration threshold and not voluntarily registered, simply leave tax off.

Indian GST splits differently depending on whether the supply crosses a state border. For intra-state supplies, the total rate is split equally between CGST (Central GST) and SGST (State GST), so 18% becomes 9% CGST + 9% SGST. For inter-state supplies (or supplies to a SEZ), the full rate is charged as IGST (Integrated GST), 18% appears as one IGST line.

Place of supply, not just buyer location, determines which one applies. Invoicara's tax field captures the total rate (e.g. 18%), for clarity, you can mention the CGST + SGST split or IGST line in the notes section at the bottom of the invoice.

Rule 46 of the CGST Rules requires a tax invoice to include: the words "Tax Invoice" or similar wording; your name, address, and GSTIN; a consecutive serial number (up to 16 characters, unique for the financial year); the date of issue; the recipient's name and address, and their GSTIN if registered (mandatory for B2B); HSN code for goods or SAC code for services; a description of the goods or services with quantity and unit; the total value excluding tax; the rate of GST applied (split into CGST + SGST or shown as IGST); the GST amount(s); the total invoice value; the place of supply (for inter-state supplies); and the signature or digital signature of the supplier or authorised representative.

Invoicara's form supplies the substantive fields. For HSN/SAC codes and CGST/SGST splits, use the notes section to include the specific details your clients or chartered accountant expect.

E-invoicing, generating invoices through the Invoice Registration Portal (IRP) to receive a unique IRN and QR code, is mandatory for businesses with aggregate turnover above ₹5 crore, for B2B and export supplies. If e-invoicing applies to you, generate the IRN through your accounting software or directly on the IRP, then use the same content (including the IRN and QR) on the invoice you send. Invoicara is ideal for the many smaller businesses below the ₹5 crore threshold who don't need IRP.

Your GSTIN is a 15-digit identifier, state code + your 10-character PAN + entity number + check character. Sole proprietors use a GSTIN based on their PAN. Add your GSTIN to the Tax ID field; it prints on the downloaded PDF beneath your business address.