Updated on: March 17th, 2023 4:50 PM

What is tax invoice in GST?

The Goods and Services Tax (GST) is a tax imposed on the provision of goods and services in India. The GST is a multi-stage tax imposed on the supply of goods and services throughout the supply chain. It is a comprehensive, destination-based tax levied on every value addition. GST is a single tax that subsumes all the existing indirect taxes like Value Added Tax (VAT), Central Sales Tax (CST), Service Tax, etc. and is a revolutionary step in the Indian taxation system. One of the most important aspects of GST is the GST tax invoice. A GST tax invoice is a document issued by a seller to a buyer containing the details of the goods or services provided and the amount of GST paid. It is used to track the sale and purchase of goods and services in the GST regime and is a legal document for claiming input tax credit.

What is a GST tax invoice?

A tax invoice is an essential document in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) system. A registered dealer issues it to another registered dealer or an unregistered dealer on the sale of taxable goods or services. The tax invoice must be issued by the supplier of goods or services within thirty days from the date of supply. It is mandatory to issue tax invoices for all taxable supplies. The supplier or their authorized representative should sign the tax invoice. A tax invoice must include the following information:

1. Name, address and GSTIN of the supplier
2. Description of goods or services
3. Quantity
4. Unit price
5. Total amount
6. GSTIN and place of supply of the recipient
7. Date of the invoice
8. Taxable value
9. Rate of GST
10. Amount of GST

What is the purpose of GST tax invoices?

• The tax invoice is evidence of the supply of goods or services and the taxes paid. The recipient uses it to claim input tax credit for the GST paid. Input tax credit is the mechanism which allows a taxpayer to set off the GST paid on the purchase of goods or services from the GST payable on the supply of products or services.
• Tax invoice is also used as proof of payment in case of a dispute between the supplier and buyer. It is used as evidence of payment in case of tax audits and other compliance-related activities.

In summary, it is crucial to understand the significance of tax invoices in the GST system. It is necessary to issue a valid tax invoice to avail input tax credit and comply with the GST norms.