GSTN issues advisory to start new Invoice series from 1st April 2019

The Goods and Service Tax Network (“GSTN”) has issued an advisory dated April 04, 2019 which state that 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. April 01, 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. Below find reproduced the notification issued by GSTN : 

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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