Isha Purohit

Expert

Published on: Jun 24, 2026

What Are The Types Of Billing Systems?

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GST billing software is a tool designed to help businesses comply with Goods and Services Tax (GST). GST stands for the Goods and Services Tax, a taxation the Government of India imposes on the sale of goods and services. This article looks at the two primary types of billing systems for GST: Tax Invoice and Bill of Supply.

What Are The Types Of Billing Systems in GST?

Tax Invoice under GST-

GST tax invoice is a document issued by a business to its clients when it makes a sale. It is an important document used to record the sale details, the applicable GST rate, the GST amount payable and other important information. GST tax invoices are used to calculate a company's GST liability and ensure that the correct amount of GST is paid. GST tax invoices must include the following information:
  • Name, address and GSTIN of the supplier.
  • Name, address and GSTIN of the recipient.
  • Date of the invoice.
  • Unique invoice number.
  • Description of the goods or services supplied.
  • Quantity and value of the goods or services supplied.
  • Applicable GST rate and the GST amount payable.
  • Total amount payable, including GST.

GST tax invoices must be issued within 30 days of the supply of goods or services. Businesses should retain copies of all GST invoices for five years in case they are required for audit or inspection.

Bill of Supply under GST-

Bill of supply is issued when a registered person supplies exempt items, services, or both or when a registered person is paying tax under the composition scheme. A bill of supply does not contain information relating to the tax rate and amount of tax. In addition, the value specified in the Bill of Supply is not of taxable value. Bill of supply is important for claiming Input Tax Credit (ITC) for the supplier. The supplier can only claim ITC if they have issued a valid bill of supply. Bill of Supply must include the following details:
  • Name, address & GSTIN of supplier
  • Unique Serial No. for a financial year (not exceeding 16 characters)
  • Date of supply
  • Name, address & GSTIN of the purchaser
  • HSN code in case of goods / SAC code in case of services
  • Description of goods or services
  • Value of goods
  • Signature or electronic signature
GST Tax Invoice and Bill of Supply are critical documents used for accounting purposes in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime. Both documents contain essential information about the sale and purchase of goods or services between two parties and are used for accounting and taxation purposes. They help track the transactions between two parties and help to ensure that taxes are paid correctly. Therefore, businesses need to ensure that these documents are issued correctly and kept up to date.
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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about GST Billing Systems: Tax Invoice & Bill of Supply Overview.

A Tax Invoice is issued when a registered business makes a taxable supply of goods or services, while a Bill of Supply is issued when a registered business supplies exempt goods or services or pays tax under the composition scheme. A Tax Invoice includes details such as the GST rate and amount, whereas a Bill of Supply does not contain tax-related information.
A GST Tax Invoice must include the name, address, and GSTIN of the supplier and recipient, the invoice date and number, a description of the goods or services supplied, the quantity and value, the applicable GST rate and amount, and the total amount payable including GST.
Yes, a GST Tax Invoice must be issued within 30 days of the supply of goods or services.
Businesses should retain copies of all GST Tax Invoices for a period of five years in case they are required for audit or inspection purposes.
A Bill of Supply is issued when a registered person supplies exempt items, services, or both, or when a registered person is paying tax under the composition scheme. It is important for claiming Input Tax Credit (ITC) for the supplier, as the supplier can only claim ITC if they have issued a valid Bill of Supply.
A Bill of Supply must include the name, address, and GSTIN of the supplier and purchaser, a unique serial number for the financial year (not exceeding 16 characters), the date of supply, the HSN/SAC code, a description of the goods or services, the value of the goods, and the signature or electronic signature of the supplier.
No, a Bill of Supply cannot be used for claiming Input Tax Credit (ITC) as it does not contain information related to the tax rate and amount of tax.
Both Tax Invoices and Bills of Supply are critical documents used for accounting purposes in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime. They contain essential information about the sale and purchase of goods or services between two parties and are used for accounting and taxation purposes, helping to track transactions and ensure that taxes are paid correctly.
No, a Tax Invoice cannot be issued for exempt goods or services under GST. In such cases, a Bill of Supply must be issued.
While it is not mandatory to mention the HSN/SAC code on a Tax Invoice, it is mandatory to mention the HSN code in case of goods or the SAC code in case of services on a Bill of Supply.