GST e-Invoicing – Concept, Process & Guidance

Does the taxpayer needs to mention the “mandatory parameters” as stated in the e-invoice schema/standards/APIs?

Absolutely No. An e-Invoice Template [Excel File] has been released on the GSTN website which contains various worksheet. One such worksheet is named as “E-Schema” which prescribes various field out of which some fields are mandatory and others are optional. It may please be noted that these details are only required for generation of JSON for e-Invoice and not required to be mentioned in the invoice generated. Only the details stipulated in section 31 read with corresponding rules 46 to 55A needs to be mentioned. Undoubtedly, these mandatory fields need to be maintained and furnished for the purpose of uploading JSON on IRP. It is very important to note that now the Schema for e-invoice has been notified vide Notification No. 60/2020-Central Tax dated 30^th July, 2020.

How small taxpayers will adopt the e-invoicing in case they do not have the accounting software?

Seller should have a utility that will output invoice data in JSON format, either from his accounting or billing software or his ERP or excel/word document or even a mobile app. Those who do not use any accounting software or IT tool to generate the invoice, will be provided an offline tool to key-in data of invoice and then submit the same. The small and medium size taxpayers (having annual turnover below ` 1.5 Crores) can avail accounting and billing system being offered by GSTN free of cost which come in both flavours, online (cloud based) as well as offline (installed on the computer system of the user).

Can the taxpayer generate the IRN by his own and print the invoice?

The unique IRN will be based on the computation of hash of GSTIN of generator of document (invoice or credit note etc.), Year and Document number like invoice number. This hash will be as published in the e-invoice standard and unique for this combination. This way hash will always be the same irrespective of the registrar who processes it. The hash could also be generated by the taxpayers based on above algorithm. The providers of accounting and billing software are being separately asked to incorporate this feature in their product.

One can pre-generate and print it on the invoice book, however, the same will not make the invoice valid unless it is registered on the portal along with invoice details.

However, vide the revised document “Proposed e-invoicing System” dated 12^th February, 2020, it has been noted that the aforesaid option to generate HASH directly by the taxpayer has been removed, hence, Hash can be generated only the IRP system.

Meaning of hash generation algorithm e.g. SHA256

SHA, a cryptographic hash stands for Secure Hash Algorithm. A cryptographic hash (sometimes called ‘digest’) is a kind of ‘signature’ for a text or a data file.

A hash is not ‘encryption’ i.e., it cannot be decrypted back to the original text (it is a ‘one-way’ cryptographic function, and is a fixed size for any size of source text). However, hash functions are not appropriate for storing encrypted passwords, as they are designed to be fast to serve the purpose.

SHA-256 is a member of the SHA-2 cryptographic hash functions designed by the United States National Security Agency (NSA) and is one of the strongest hash functions available.

SHA-256 converts a text of any length into an almost unique string of 256-bit (32-byte). This is known as the Hashing function or it can be said that it is a cryptographically secure hashing function because knowing the output tells the user very little about the input. Top of Form For example: SHA-256 hash of ‘abc’ would be: ba7816bf8f01cfea414140de5dae2223b00361a396177a9cb410ff61f20015ad.

Does the 3 parameters set the uniqueness of the IRN sufficient or does it require any other parameter to set in?

Since E-Invoicing is also applicable on Debit Note and Credit Note also, therefore, it may happen that the serial number of Tax Invoice & Debit Note is same, for instance, say 1001, then in such a case there will be duplicity error from the portal, therefore, it appears that if “Document Type” is added as an additional parameter uniqueness may increase.

In this regard, it has been clarified by the FAQ E-invoice Roll-out by GSTN released on 26th December, 2019 that the e-invoice schema is capturing the type of document which are addressing the issues raised. However, vide the revised document “Proposed e-invoicing System” dated 12^th February, 2020, it has been clearly stipulated that “Document Type” shall also be used for generating the HASH.

How conversion of invoice details will happen in JSON format that needs to be uploaded on the IRP.

The question which may arise is that how the details will be uploaded at the IRP i.e. the format in which the same needs to be uploaded? In this regard, it is not the excel file/invoice generated from the software, that needs to be uploaded at the IRP but the data needs to be converted in the JSON format and then it needs to be uploaded on IRP. Now, the question arise that how the same will be converted in JSON format? For this purpose, GSTN has proposed to provide the following channels:

API Based:

Taxpayers with Aggregate Turnover of < Rs. 500 Crores:

• • Through E-Way Bill APIs – If the taxpayer already has direct access to E-Way Bill APIs, then they can use the same Client Id, Client Secret, username and password to get access to e-Invoice system.
  • Through GSPs – The taxpayer can connect through GSPs. In this case, the GSTIN generates their own username and password, ties up with GSPs to get access to e-invoice APIs using the Client ID and Client Secret of GSPs.

GST Suvidha Providers/ERPs

• • Through ERPs or Billing/Accounting Software Service Providers – The taxpayer can connect through select ERPs and Billing/Accounting Software Service Providers. In this case, the GSTIN generates their own username and password and ties up with ERPs or Billing/Accounting Software Service Providers, to get access to e-invoice APIs, using the Client ID and Client Secret of said providers.
  • Through Entities having direct Access to APIs – If the taxpayer (e.g. certain automobile companies) has tie up or using the ERP of the entity which has direct access to API, then they can access e-invoice APIs through that entity. In this case, the GSTIN generates their own username and password and gets access to e-invoice APIs, using Client ID and Client Secret of the entity which has such access.

Taxpayers with Aggregate Turnover of > Rs. 500 Crores: In addition to above modes, they will have direct access, as follows:

• • Direct Access to API– They can get direct access to API to integrate with their ERP system. They need to whitelist their public IPs. In addition to username and password to each GSTIN of the entity, the entity gets the Client ID and Client Secret to get access to e-invoice APIs.

Offline Utility Based: Some businesses may not have their own ERP/Accounting Software or have few invoices to report. They can download the free offline utility (‘bulk generation tool’) from e-invoice portal. Using this, invoice data can be easily uploaded on IRP for generation of IRN. While the portal gives back ‘machine-readable’ invoice in JSON format, there is a facility to generate ‘human-readable’ PDF copy of invoice (for save/print/e-mail etc.).

Web based: The details of invoices can be directly furnished on the IRP basis which unique Invoice Reference Number (IRN) is generated. It is important to note that GST e-invoice system FAQ version 1.4 dated 31-3-2021 states that mobile -app based modes will also be provided in future.

SMS based: The details of invoices can be directly furnished on the SMS basis which unique Invoice Reference Number (IRN) is generated. However, vide the revised document “Proposed e-invoicing System” dated 12^th February, 2020, the said mode of generation of e-invoice has been removed.

Mobile App based: The details of invoices can be directly furnished on the Mobile App basis which unique Invoice Reference Number (IRN) is generated. However, vide the revised document “Proposed e-invoicing System” dated 12^th February, 2020, the said mode of generation of e-invoice has been removed. It is important to note that GST e-invoice system FAQ version 1.4 dated 31-3-2021 states that mobile -app based modes will also be provided in future.

• • Each Invoice uploaded by the taxpayer will get the unique number called as Invoice Reference Number (IRN).
  • IRN is of 64 Characters length.
  • This IRN is unique number in the GST system, irrespective of taxpayer, financial year and document type.
  • IRN is generated by the e-invoice system once the taxpayer uploads the invoice details.
  • IRN is generated using the computer algorithm (RSA256) based on the combination of the Supplier GSTIN, Document Type, Document Number and year of the Invoice (Financial Year).
  • IRN is hash of Supplier GSTIN + Fin. Year + Doc Type + Doc Number.
  • Financial Year is calculated based on the date of invoice. That is, the financial year starts with 1st April and ends on 31st March and represented as YYYY-YY. If the date is 03.01.2020, the financial year is 2019-20.
  • Document types are INV for Invoice, CRN for Credit Note, DBN for Debit Note.
  • Document Number is a number printed on the Document, being issued to the purchaser, and it is to be of maximum of 16 alphanumeric and/or -.

What is the use of QR Code? How QR Code can be used to verify the details of invoices? Can the user print the e-invoice using the QR Code?

The IRP will also generate a QR code containing the unique IRN (hash) along with some important parameters of invoice and digital signature so that it can be verified on the central portal as well as by an Offline App. This will be helpful for tax officers checking the invoice on the roadside where Internet may not be available all the time. The web user will get a printable form with all details including QR code. The seller will be returned a signed JSON with all details including a QR Code. The QR code will consist of the following e-invoice parameters:

a. GSTIN of supplier

b. GSTIN of Recipient

c. Invoice number as given by Supplier

d. Date of generation of invoice

e. Invoice value (taxable value and gross tax)

f. Number of line items.

g. HSN Code of main item (the line item having highest taxable value)

h. Unique Invoice Reference Number (hash)

i. IRN Generation Date [as stipulated in Q80 of GST e-invoice System – FAQs – Version 1.4 Dt. 30-3-2021]

An offline app will be provided for anyone to download to authenticate the QR code of the e-invoice offline and its basic details. The facility to view the e-invoice will be provided to buyers or tax officers, on the GST system/e-way bill system.

The facility of e-invoice verification is planned to be made available only through the GST System and not the IRP.  This is because the IRP will not have the mandate to store invoices for more than 24 hours.  In order to achieve speed and efficiency, the IRP will be a lean and focused portal for providing invoice registration and verification service, IRN and the QR codes.  Hence, storing of the invoices will not be a feature of the IRP.