If your business in India isn’t registered under GST, you can still issue a clean, professional invoice. Leave tax off and list your services and the amount due in rupees.
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If you are not registered under GST, you cannot charge GST, but you still need a proper invoice to get paid and to keep your own accounts in order. This applies to many freelancers, tutors, designers, consultants and home businesses.
GST registration generally becomes compulsory once your aggregate turnover crosses ₹20 lakh a year for services (₹10 lakh in special category states) or ₹40 lakh for goods in most states. Below that, registration is optional. Some situations, such as certain inter-state sales of goods or selling through e-commerce platforms, can require registration earlier, so check with your CA if you are close to the limit or sell online.
For example, a ₹15,000 copywriting project is billed as exactly ₹15,000, with the amount in words reading “Rupees Fifteen Thousand Only”.
An invoice without GST is what an unregistered person issues. It carries no GSTIN because you don’t have one.
A bill of supply is a GST document issued by registered persons who cannot charge tax on a particular sale, such as composition-scheme taxpayers or businesses supplying exempt goods or services. It shows the supplier’s GSTIN but no GST amount. If that describes you, retitle the document “Bill of Supply” in BillFlow instead of “Invoice”.
Never add GST to your bill just because a client asks for it or because larger vendors do. Collecting tax without registration is not allowed, and it creates trouble for both of you. Do not print a made-up or borrowed GSTIN either.
Keep an eye on your total turnover across all clients, not just one. Once you approach the threshold, plan your registration in advance so you can switch to tax invoices from the right date. Until then, keep every invoice in a numbered series so your income record is complete when you file your income tax return.
Yes. Businesses below the GST registration threshold can issue a normal invoice without GSTIN or tax. Just don't show any GST amount.
A bill of supply is issued by composition dealers or for exempt supplies, where no GST is charged. Change the document title to “Bill of Supply” if that applies to you.
Usually only once your aggregate turnover from services crosses ₹20 lakh in a financial year (₹10 lakh in special category states). Some activities need registration regardless of turnover, so confirm your case with a CA.
No. Only GST-registered businesses can collect GST. If you are not registered, bill only your fee and do not add any tax line.
It isn’t required on every invoice, but many business clients ask for it for their records and tax deductions. You can add it in the notes, for example “PAN: ABCDE1234F”.
Composition-scheme taxpayers are registered but must issue a bill of supply, not a tax invoice. Change the document title to “Bill of Supply”, add your GSTIN and do not show any GST on the bill.