On this page · 6 sections
- Generator, template or billing app: compared
- What every GST tax invoice must show (Rule 46)
- How to make a GST invoice with the free generator
- When a free format stops being enough
- Frequently asked questions
- Bottom line
Updated 18 October 2026 · By Ashok Sachdev · Source: Rule 46, CGST Rules, 2017 (CBIC tax information portal)
Quick answer
For a few GST bills a month, the free GST invoice generator makes a Rule 46 tax invoice or bill of supply as an A4 PDF in your browser, works out CGST + SGST or IGST from the GSTINs and writes the amount in words, with no login. If you want a blank layout to print or fill by hand, use the free GST invoice format templates. Once you bill every day, billing software is cheaper in time: it numbers bills, keeps stock and gives your CA GSTR-1-ready reports. None of these free options makes an e-invoice with IRN.
There is no single government-issued GST invoice format. Rule 46 of the CGST Rules lists what a tax invoice must contain, and any layout that shows all of it is valid. So the real question is which way of making the bill fits how many bills you make. This guide compares the three free options.
Generator, template or billing app: compared
| Online GST invoice generator | Excel / Word template | Billing software |
|---|
| Cost | Free, no login, no limit | Free download | RichPOS: 30-day free trial, then ₹99/month for 3 months, ₹199/month or ₹2,000/year |
| CGST/SGST or IGST | Picked from the state codes in the GSTINs | You choose and type | Picked automatically |
| Totals and amount in words | Automatic, with round-off line | Formulas in Excel; by hand in Word | Automatic |
| Invoice numbering | Suggested; you keep the series | You keep the series | Automatic series |
| Saved bills | Your details stay in this browser; bills are PDFs you keep | Files you keep | Every bill saved in the cloud |
| Stock and dues | No | No | Yes |
| GSTR-1 data for your CA | No | No | Yes, sales by HSN, B2B and B2C split |
| E-invoice (IRN, QR) | No | No | Not in RichPOS |
| Best for | A few bills a month, freelancers, one-off B2B bills | Printed bill books, handwritten bills | Shops billing every day |
What every GST tax invoice must show (Rule 46)
| Field | Detail |
|---|
| Your name, address and GSTIN | As on your registration |
| Invoice number | Consecutive serial, up to 16 characters, unique for the financial year |
| Date of issue | The invoice date |
| Buyer's name, address and GSTIN | GSTIN if the buyer is registered |
| HSN code and description | 4 digits on B2B bills up to ₹5 crore turnover; 6 digits above |
| Quantity and unit | Such as 2 pcs or 0.5 kg |
| Taxable value | After any discount shown on the bill |
| GST rate and amount | CGST and SGST, or IGST, shown separately |
| Place of supply | State name, needed for inter-state supplies |
| Reverse charge | Whether tax is payable on reverse charge |
| Signature | Signature or digital signature of the supplier |
A composition dealer or a shop selling only exempt goods issues a bill of supply instead, without tax columns; see bill of supply vs tax invoice. Numbering rules are in GST invoice number rules.
How to make a GST invoice with the free generator
- Open the GST invoice generator and type your shop name, address and GSTIN. The state is read from the first two digits.
- Add the customer. For a registered buyer, enter their GSTIN; the place of supply is set from it. Unsure about a GSTIN? Test its format in the free GSTIN checker, then confirm it is active on the GST portal.
- Pick tax invoice or bill of supply, check the invoice number and date.
- Add items with description, HSN, quantity, rate before GST, discount and GST rate. Find codes in the HSN and GST rate finder.
- Press Print / Save as PDF, choose A4, and send the PDF on WhatsApp or email.
Nothing you type is sent to our server; your details are kept only in your browser for the next invoice.
- You bill every day. Typing each item again takes longer than scanning it from saved stock.
- You give credit. A PDF does not remind anyone to pay; billing software keeps dues and sends WhatsApp reminders.
- Your CA asks for GSTR-1 data. Collecting sales from loose PDFs every month is slow and error-prone.
- Your turnover crosses ₹5 crore. B2B invoices then need an e-invoice IRN from the Invoice Registration Portal, which none of these free options does. See the e-invoice limit.
For a shop, the step-by-step for phone billing is in how to make a GST bill on your phone, and B2B details are in how to make a B2B GST invoice.
Related guides: GST બિલ કેવી રીતે બનાવવું (ગુજરાતી); Dukaan ke liye 16 free billing tools.
Bottom line
For an occasional bill, the free GST invoice generator is all you need. For daily billing with stock, dues and GST reports, try the RichPOS free trial for 30 days, no card needed. Format rules for shops are in the GST invoice format guide.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Is there an official government GST invoice format?
No. The GST law does not prescribe one layout. Rule 46 of the CGST Rules lists the fields a tax invoice must show, and any format that shows all of them is valid.
How can I make a GST invoice online for free?
Use a free GST invoice generator such as the one at richdaddy.in/tools/gst-invoice-generator. Enter your GSTIN, the buyer and the items with HSN and GST rate, and save the invoice as an A4 PDF. It needs no login.
Can I make a GST invoice in Excel or Word?
Yes, as long as it shows every Rule 46 field: your GSTIN, a unique serial number, date, buyer details, HSN, quantity, taxable value, GST rate and amount, place of supply and signature. Free templates are on the GST invoice format page.
Is an invoice from a free generator legally valid?
Yes, if it shows all the Rule 46 fields correctly and you keep a consecutive invoice series. The generator does not file anything with the GST portal; you still report the sale in your returns.
Does a free GST invoice generator make e-invoices?
No. An e-invoice needs an IRN and signed QR code from the Invoice Registration Portal, required for B2B invoices once aggregate turnover crosses ₹5 crore in any year from 2017-18. Free generators make regular invoices only.
When should a shop switch from a free format to billing software?
When you bill every day, give credit, or your CA needs monthly GST data. Billing software saves items once, numbers bills, keeps stock and dues, and produces GSTR-1-ready reports.
Need a quick figure? Use the free GST calculator to add or remove GST.
ASWritten by Ashok SachdevFounder, RichPOS Software, Ahmedabad. We build RichPOS for Indian shops and write these guides from what shop owners ask us every day. Facts on tax rates and prices are dated; confirm GST matters with your CA. Questions? WhatsApp us.
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