e-Invoicing Mandatory for Businesses with Turnover Above INR 10 Crore

All businesses with an aggregate annual turnover limit exceeding RS 10 crores in any preceding fiscal year beginning in 2017-18 require e-invoices from October 1, 2022. As a result, the turnover threshold for e-invoicing has been halved from Rs 20 crores. And the aggregate turnover includes the turnovers of all the GSTINs under a single PAN across India.

The introduction of e-invoices does not change the existing invoicing system. However, the additional step added was to automate tax-related processes that replace manual form reporting, separate GST declarations, tax accounting, etc.

Which Businesses Should Issue E-invoices?

The GST Council in 2019 approved the introduction of e-invoicing in GST for reporting B2B invoices in a phased manner. Accordingly, the system became active on January 1, 2020.

E-invoices are Mandatory for

All the registered B2B businesses whose aggregate turnover in any preceding financial year from 2017-18 onwards is more than the set limit need e-invoices. It is for companies with a turnover of more than Rs 10 crore.

Furthermore, all businesses that supply to registered persons (B2B) supply SEZs, conduct exports, and the deemed exports are viable to produce e-invoices.

E-invoices are Not Mandatory for

Certain businesses are, however, exempt from issuing e-invoices on a compulsion, including

• Special economic zones (SEZ)
• Financial and non-financial institutions, including insurance companies and banks
• Transportation agencies supplying goods by road
• Suppliers of passenger transportation services
• Suppliers of services by way of admission to movies in multiplex theatres

The Impact of E-invoicing on Business Processes

According to the notification passed on e-invoicing,

• Businesses must interface their systems with the government’s Invoice Registration Portal (IRP) to ensure proper invoice reference numbers (IRNs) for every B2B bill.
• To comply with the e-invoice standard, they must convert their existing software to a complete e invoicing software, such as myBillBook, through which they can check the progress of their e-invoices via the government portal.

Examine how creating e-invoices will impact the business processes.

Reconfiguration of ERP

Businesses need to reconfigure their ERP systems to communicate with the IRP site to generate IRN or QR codes.

Transaction Identification

For compliance, the company must now identify and separate transactions based on attracting e-invoices from the others. (exports and imports, cross-border levies, asset transfers, etc.)

Maintenance of Master Data

To ensure accuracy, organisations must keep supplier and customer master data, including extra information on the invoice like GSTIN, bank account, and payee details.

Changes to the Tax Return Filing

Businesses must modify their GST return filing process because B2B supplies will auto-populate and be manually modified.

Methods of Integration

Businesses must determine whether or not to implement e-invoicing,

• Using the API integration
• Utilising offline utilities such as the GePP and integrating them directly
• Or with GST Suvidha Provider (GSP)

The direct integration enables them to automatically submit e-invoice data to the portal and print the QR code on the e-invoices.

Invoice and IRN Generation

Retailers in this revenue range send out thousands of B2B invoices daily. However, they can’t keep customers waiting for e-invoices generation. Hence, for a smooth rollout, such organisations must use GSP services.

What are the Consequences of Failing to Generate E-invoices?

Not generating an e-invoice is regarded as an offence with penalties.

Penal Provisions-based Consequences

1. Penalty for non-issuance of e-invoice: Non-compliant businesses must pay a heavy penalty of Rs. 10,000 per invoice.
2. Penalty for improper e-invoice:  Incorrect invoicing may result in a penalty of Rs. 25,000 for each invoice.

Other Consequences

1. The tax officer proceeds with confiscating commodities and vehicles while carrying products without a valid e-invoice.
2. There will be no auto-filling of GST returns.
3. Customers cannot claim valid ITC.
4. Customers might refuse to accept non-compliant invoices.

How to Prepare for an E-invoicing Implementation?

To prepare for an e-invoicing implementation, keep note of the following:

• Determine the requirements to implement e-invoicing.
• Familiarise your organisation with the e-invoice schema.
• Find a suitable vendor to reorient your ERP systems.
• Complete the systems integration with the e-invoice standards.
• Prepare for the launch of e-invoicing.

Notifications for the E-invoicing Implementation

The notifications for e-invoicing imply details on mandatory e-invoice generation. Accordingly, businesses will be required to generate the whole GST e-invoice, including all sales value, in case of the following:

• Turnover exceeds Rs 500 crore in the previous fiscal year from March 21, 2020, onwards
• Turnover is equal to or exceeds Rs.100 Cr from January 01, 2021, to March 31, 2021, onwards
• Turnover is equal to or exceeds Rs.50 Cr from April 01, 2021, to March 31, 2022, onwards
• Turnover is equal to or exceeds Rs.20 Cr from April 01, 2022, onwards
• Turnover is equal to or exceeds Rs.10 Cr from October 01, 2022, onwards

Here is the complete guideline: