1. Tax Invoice
A tax invoice shall be issued only by a registered person (registered under GST) supplying taxable goods or taxable services or both (supply means sale). There is no prescribed format for tax invoice. But there are certain mandatory fields to be given in a tax invoice.
The time limit for issuing tax invoice is dependent on the nature of supply. i.e., whether supply of goods supply of services. The details of invoices issued has to be furnished electronically in FORM GSTR-1 [Details of outward Supplies of goods or services].
(a). Time-limit for supply of tax invoice:
- Incase of Taxable Supply of Goods: –
| SITUATIONS: | ISSUE OF INVOICE: | |
| 1 | Supply involves movement of goods (movement by supplier/ recipient/ others). | Before or at the time of removal of goods for supply. |
| 2 | Supply does not involve movement of goods. | Before or at the time of delivery of goods. |
| 3 | Continuous supply of goods involving successive receipts of payments/ statements of accounts | Before or at the time of issue of such statements/ receipt of payments. |
| 4 | Goods sent on sale/ return basis | Earlier of: Before/ at the time of supply, (or) 6 months from the date of removal of goods. |
- In case of Taxable Supply of Services: –
| SITUATIONS: | ISSUE OF INVOICE | |
| 1 | Supply of Services | Before the provision of services or within 30 days from the date of provision of services. |
| 2 | Continuous supply of services: – | |
| * where due date of payment is specified in the contract | On or before due date of payment. | |
| * where due date of payment is not specified in the contract | Before or at the time when the supplier receives the payment. | |
| * Where payment is linked with completion of contract | On or before the date of completion. |
(b). Mandatory fields of an Tax Invoice
As specified above, there is no specific format for a tax invoice. The following are the mandatory fields: –
- Name, address and GSTIN of the supplier;
- Invoice Number;
- Date of issue of invoice;
- Name, address and GSTIN of recipient (if registered);
- If the recipient is Unregistered:
| Value of supply ≥ ₹50,000 | Name and address of the recipient, address of delivery, name of State and its code |
| Value of supply < ₹50,000 | Details of recipient are not mandatory. |
- HSN code for goods or services;
- Description and quantity of goods or services;
- Taxable value and discount of supply of goods or services or both;
- Total value of supply of goods or services;
- Rate and amount of tax;
- Place of supply and address of delivery;
- Whether the tax is payable on Forward Charge or reverse charge basis;
- Signature of supplier or his representative.
(c) . Manner of issuing the invoice
2. Bill Of Supply
A bill of supply shall be issued by a registered person,: –
- if he supplies exempted goods or services or both (Exempted goods or services mean goods or services which are exempted from GST by virtue of notification in Official Gazette.),
(or)
- if he opts for paying tax under composition scheme (a registered persons opting for composition scheme do not collect tax from recipients.)
In the above mentioned cases, a registered person can not issue a tax invoice. So, a bill of supply does not contain rate of tax and amount of tax.
(a). A format of Bill of supply includes the following fields: –
- Name, address and GSTIN of the supplier;
- Invoice Number;
- Date of issue of invoice;
- Name, address and GSTIN of recipient (if registered);
- HSN code for goods or services;
- Description and quantity of goods or services;
- Value and discount of supply of goods or services or both;
- Signature of supplier or his representative.
3. Invoice-cum-bill of supply
A registered person, when he supplies taxable as well as exempted goods or services or both to an unregistered person, a ‘invoice-cum-bill of supply’ may be issued.
4. Delivery Challan
Delivery Challan is a document issued on removal of goods for transportation from one place to another which may or may not related to supply (sales).
(a) A delivery challan is issued in the following situations:-
- Goods transported but the tax invoice could not be issued at the time of removal of goods for sale. In such situations, the supplier shall issue a delivery challan on removal. Tax invoice shall be issued after delivery of goods;
- Goods transported for job work;
- Goods transported for other than supply;
- Goods transported where the quantity is not ascertainable at the time of removal from the place of supplier;
- Goods transported in completely knocked down or semi-assembled condition;
- Goods transported for sale on approval basis can be moved from the place of registered supplier to another place on a delivery challan along with the e-way bill. Tax invoice shall be issued on completion of supply/ sale;
- Art works may be sent by artists to galleries for exhibition on delivery challan along with e-way bill, wherever applicable.
(b). A Delivery Challan contains following fields: –
- Name, address and GSTIN of the consigner, if registered;
- Name, address and GSTIN or UIN of the consignee, if registered;
- HSN code for goods or services;
- Quantity (if known);
- Taxable Value;
- Tax rate & tax amount (in case of supply);
- Date & number of Delivery challan;
- Place of supply (inter-state movement);
- Signature.
(c). Manner of issuing the delivery challan: –
(d) Format of Delivery Challan
If the goods are transported on a Delivery challan instead of Tax invoice, it must be mentioned in E-way bill.