GST
INVOICE SERIAL NUMBERS TO BE MAINTAIND WITH EFFECT FROM 1.4.2019 FOR THE
FINANCIAL YEAR 2019-20
The Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 came into force in India with effect from 1.7.2017.
Under Rule 46 (b) of the CGST Rules 2017, for normal
taxpayers, the tax invoice issued by a registered person should have a
consecutive serial number, not exceeding sixteen characters, in one or multiple
series containing apphabets or numerals or special characters – hyphen or dash
and slash symbolized as “-“ and ”/” respectively, and any combination thereof,
unique for a financial year.
Similarly under Rule 49 of the CGST Rules 2017 for
composition taxpayers the issue of Bill of
Supply by registered taxpayers availing Composition Scheme or supplying
exempted goods or services or both.
If the provisions of Rule 46 or Rule 49 are not
adhered to, apart from being a compliance issue, taxpayers may face problem
while generating E-Way Bill on E-way bill system or furnishing their Form GSTR
1 or for applying for refund on GST Portal. It is therefore necessary that
suitable modification may be made by the taxpayers in this regard in their
invoices or bill of supply, to avoid any inconvenience in the future.
The Advisory to GST Taxpayers on Invoice Series to
be used with effect from 1.4.2019 displayed in GST Portal is given below for
ready reference
Advisory to GST Taxpayers on Invoice Series to be used wef 1st April,
2019
04/04/2019
Attention of all taxpayers is invited to Rule 46 (b) of the CGST Rules
2017, which specifies that the tax invoice issued by a registered person should
have a consecutive serial number, not exceeding sixteen characters, in one or
multiple series, containing alphabets or numerals or special characters -
hyphen or dash and slash symbolized as “-” and “/” respectively, and any
combination thereof, unique for a financial year.
This rule implies that with the start of new financial year 2019-20
(w.e.f. 01/04/2019), a new invoice series, unique for the financial year is to
be started by the GST taxpayers. Similar provision is there in Rule 49 of the
CGST Rules 2017, in respect of issue of Bill of Supply by registered taxpayers
availing Composition Scheme or supplying exempted goods or services or both.
If the provisions of Rule 46 or Rule 49 are not adhered to, apart from
being a compliance issue, taxpayers may face problem while generating E-Way
Bill on E-way bill system or furnishing their Form GSTR 1 or for applying for
refund on GST Portal. It is therefore necessary that suitable modification may
be made by the taxpayers in this regard in their invoices or bill of supply, to
avoid any inconvenience in the future.
Thanks,
Team GSTN
Team GSTN