Some important points on e-invoicing

[Ganeshan Kalyani]

Applicability:
E-invoicing was supposed to come into effect from 01.04.2020. The same was postponed due to certain reasons. Now the same has been made effective from 01.10.2020. E-Invoice is applicable to the taxpayers having aggregate turnover of more than ₹ 500 Crores. Reference Notification No.61/2020-CT 30.07.2020. 

Relaxation:

One month relaxation was given in the month of October, 2020. The relaxation was such that taxpayer can raise invoice with e-invoicing but shall send the invoice details to IRP (Invoice Registration Portal) within 30 days from the date of the invoice. Reference Notification No. 73/2020-CT dated 01.10.2020.

Note: The said relaxation is not extended further and therefore with effect from 01.11.2020 all eligible invoices must have IRN and QR code printed on it. Otherwise the invoice is not considered as a valid document.

Taxpayer enabled for e-invoice by system:

The taxpayers who have been enabled by the e-invoicing system to become eligible to comply for e-invoicing can be checked from IRP - https://einvoice1.gst.gov.in/

HSN /States code etc.:

Master Codes like State Codes, HSN Codes, Country Codes, Port Codes, Currency Codes, UQC Codes are required while sending the invoice details to IRP for generation of IRN and QR code. Those codes are available at IRP. Taxpayers must maintain them in their accounting system so that the same can be sent electronicially to IRP for e-invoicing.

GSPs info:

A list of GST Suvidha Provider (GSP) is available at e-invoice system. It helps taxpayers to access the name of the suvidha provider and avail their service. 

Mobile App to verify e-invoice:

'Verify e-invoice' Mobile App is also available at e-invoice system for verification of authenticity of e-invoice (QR code/IRN). The taxpayer as well as tax official can verify the e-invoicing by scanning QR code in the App which will display the details of the invoice and the signature by IRP.

Update GSTIN at IRP:

The status of GSTIN of the customer ie. actvie, cancelled etc. as available at GSTN was considered by IRP. However, the status of GSTIN at GSTN may have changed based on the compliance. The same can be updated at IRP.  

E-invoices generated in the first month:

More than 495 Lakh e-invoices have been generated by 27,400 tax payers within the first month of introduction of E-Invoicing. Reference, Press Release dated 02.11.2020.

List of GSTINs generating IRN:

List of GSTINs generating IRN, updated as on 02.11.2020 is available at e-invoice system. 

EWB blocking:

From 1st December, 2020, onwards, the E-Way Bill (EWB) generation facility of a taxpayer is liable to be restricted, in case the taxpayer fails to file their FORM GSTR-3B returns / Statement in FORM GST CMP-08, for tax periods of two or more. This blocking of EWB generation facility would be made applicable to all the taxpayers irrespective of their Aggregate Annual Turnover.