Billing & Invoicing Software · Updated 20 Oct 2026
GST Invoice Format: Mandatory Fields Every Indian Invoice Needs
The fields a valid GST tax invoice must contain, explained in plain language with a checklist.
A GST tax invoice is not just a bill — it is the document your customer uses to claim input tax credit. Missing fields can create problems for both of you. Here is what a standard tax invoice should contain under the CGST Rules.
Supplier details
- Legal or trade name, address and GSTIN of the supplier.
Invoice details
- A consecutive serial number, unique for the financial year, up to 16 characters (letters, numbers, hyphens or slashes).
- Date of issue.
Recipient details
- Name, address and GSTIN of the recipient if registered.
- For unregistered recipients above the prescribed value, name and address with the state.
- Delivery address if different from the place of supply.
Goods or services
- HSN code for goods or SAC code for services.
- Description, quantity and unit.
- Total value and taxable value after discounts.
Tax details
- Rate and amount of tax — CGST and SGST/UTGST for intra-state supplies, IGST for inter-state supplies.
- Place of supply with the state name, for inter-state supplies.
- Whether tax is payable on reverse charge.
Authentication
- Signature or digital signature of the supplier or authorised representative. E-invoices authenticated through the Invoice Registration Portal carry an IRN and QR code instead.
Common mistakes
- Charging IGST on a local sale, or CGST+SGST on an inter-state sale.
- Restarting invoice numbers mid-year.
- Using the wrong HSN digit length for your turnover.
Rules and thresholds change, so confirm the latest requirements on the official GST portal or with your tax adviser. Create a draft quickly with our free invoice generator and verify tax with the GST calculator.
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