The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →In TallyPrime, creating a GST bill normally means recording a GST tax invoice: configure the company and masters, enter the sale in Alt+G → Create Voucher → F8 (Sales), check the tax analysis, then save and print. Use Item Invoice for inventory and Accounting Invoice for services or accounting-only sales. A printed tax invoice is not automatically an e-Invoice or an e-Way Bill; those are separate compliance processes.
The steps below apply to India-focused TallyPrime installations. Menu wording can vary by release, so confirm labels in your installed version and verify unusual tax treatments with a GST professional.
What to prepare before entering a GST bill
Complete this checklist before opening the sales voucher:
- Create the TallyPrime company and confirm the financial year, books beginning date, address and state.
- Collect the company GST registration type, GSTIN or UIN and applicable registration dates.
- Create the customer, cash or bank party ledger with its legal name, address, state, registration type and GSTIN where applicable.
- Create sales ledgers and mark them as GST applicable, with the correct taxable, exempt, nil-rated or other classification.
- For goods, create stock items with units, HSN, taxability and GST rate. For services, create a service ledger with the correct SAC and rate.
- Create CGST, SGST/UTGST, IGST and Cess ledgers when those taxes are required.
- Know the actual place of supply, delivery or consignee state and any dispatch or transport information.
- Decide your invoice-numbering and print-format settings.
Validate a customer GSTIN against the customer’s legal name and state. A mathematically correct invoice can still cause return mismatches when the GSTIN or party details are wrong.
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Enable GST for the company
- Open the company in TallyPrime and press F11 (Features).
- Set Enable Goods and Services Tax (GST) to Yes.
- Open the GST details screen and enter or confirm the company state, registration type, GSTIN/UIN, applicable dates and other requested details.
- Save with Ctrl+A.
These company details flow into transactions and printed invoices. TallyPrime Release 3.0 and later supports multiple GST registrations under one company; select the relevant registration while recording a voucher. This is not the same capability as older releases. See TallyPrime GST setup guidance and the current GST sales workflow.
Configure the GST masters
Customer or party ledger
Enter the customer’s name, billing address, state, registration type (such as Regular, Composition or Unregistered), GSTIN/UIN and contact details. Record shipping or consignee details separately when they differ from the billing address. The customer state is an input, not a substitute for determining the legally correct place of supply.
Sales ledger
Group the ledger under the appropriate sales account, mark it GST applicable and choose the correct taxability. You may maintain GST details at company, sales-ledger, stock-item, service-ledger or classification level. Pick a consistent master-data policy instead of entering conflicting rates in several places. Tally’s guidance on updating ledgers is available at this GST ledger reference.
Stock item for goods
Create the item, select its unit, enter the appropriate HSN, taxability and GST rate, and configure MRP or inclusive-tax treatment if your business uses it. Add opening stock when inventory is being maintained. HSN and rate automation is only as reliable as the item master.
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Service ledger
Create a service or income ledger, enter the SAC and applicable tax rate, and use it in Accounting Invoice mode. Keep the SAC and rate aligned with the actual service and current law.
Tax ledgers
Maintain separate CGST, SGST/UTGST, IGST and Cess ledgers as applicable. Do not select a tax ledger merely to force a desired total; the place-of-supply facts determine the treatment.
Create a GST bill for goods
- Press Alt+G, choose Create Voucher, and press F8 (Sales).
- Press Ctrl+H and select Item Invoice.
- If the company has multiple GST registrations, press F3 (Company/Tax Registration) and choose the applicable registration.
- Enter the voucher number and date.
- Select the buyer under Party A/c name. Confirm the party state.
- Enter the actual Place of Supply, then add order, dispatch, consignee and transport details where relevant.
- Select the GST-applicable sales ledger.
- Select each stock item and enter quantity and rate. Apply any permitted discount using the configured discount method.
- For a standard same-state taxable supply, select CGST and SGST/UTGST. For a standard interstate supply, select IGST. Add Cess only when applicable.
- Press Alt+A (Tax Analysis); where supported, use Alt+F5 for the detailed breakup.
- Save with Ctrl+A. Preview or print with Ctrl+P or Alt+P.
The saved invoice should show the correct taxable value, rate and tax breakup. The standard local/interstate distinction is documented in TallyPrime’s GST sales help, but special place-of-supply rules can change the result.
Create a GST bill for services
- Open Alt+G → Create Voucher → F8 (Sales).
- Press Ctrl+H and choose Accounting Invoice.
- Select the service ledger under particulars and enter the service value.
- Confirm the SAC and GST rate.
- Select CGST plus SGST/UTGST for a standard local supply, or IGST for a standard interstate supply, subject to the place-of-supply rules.
- Use Alt+A to inspect Tax Analysis and save with Ctrl+A.
- Preview or print through Ctrl+P or Alt+P.
Accounting Invoice mode suits consultants, agencies and other businesses that do not maintain inventory. Item Invoice provides quantity and stock controls; Accounting Invoice is simpler but depends on a correctly configured service ledger.
Local versus interstate tax selection
| Transaction pattern | Common ledger selection | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Standard same-state taxable sale | CGST + SGST/UTGST | Supplier state, recipient facts and place of supply |
| Standard interstate taxable sale | IGST | Place of supply and delivery or consignee state |
| Cess applies | Add the relevant Cess ledger | Product or transaction-specific Cess rule |
Do not choose IGST solely because a customer’s billing address differs, or choose CGST/SGST solely because it looks like a local customer. Review the actual supply and statutory place-of-supply rule.
Check tax, discounts and mixed rates
Tax Analysis should reconcile the line values, discounts, taxable value, rates and tax ledgers before you save. A discount may be included in the item rate, entered through a discount ledger or entered in the invoice’s Discount column. If you use the column, enable it through F11 → Use Discount column in invoices. The taxable value must reflect the legally appropriate discount treatment, not just the arithmetic produced by a setting.
One invoice can contain items or services with different GST rates when each master is correctly configured. Review the line-level breakup and avoid conflicting company, ledger, item and voucher rates. Document any transaction-level override.
Print or export the invoice
- Preview the voucher with Ctrl+P or Alt+P.
- In voucher-printing configuration, enable Print Company GSTIN Number and item-wise GST details when required.
- Check that the company GSTIN, customer GSTIN (if applicable), HSN/SAC, quantity or service description, taxable value, rate and tax amounts are visible.
- Add logo, bank details, payment terms and transport information through the print configuration if your format requires them.
- Print or export the reviewed invoice to PDF.
Printing a PDF does not create an IRP e-Invoice or an e-Way Bill.
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Use the applicable GST invoice rules and the CBIC tax-invoice explainer as the compliance reference. Depending on the supply and recipient, check for:
- Supplier name, address and GSTIN.
- A consecutive invoice number unique for the financial year and the invoice date.
- Recipient name, address and GSTIN/UIN where applicable.
- Delivery address and state code where required.
- HSN for goods or SAC for services and a description.
- Quantity and unit for goods.
- Total value, taxable value, GST rate and CGST, SGST/UTGST, IGST or Cess amounts.
- Place of supply for relevant interstate supplies.
- Reverse-charge indication where applicable.
- Supplier or authorised representative signature or digital signature where required.
When a Bill of Supply is the correct document
A Bill of Supply is not a tax invoice. It can apply to exempt supplies and to composition-taxpayer transactions, subject to the relevant rules. A composition taxpayer generally cannot charge GST separately as a regular taxpayer does. Use TallyPrime’s composition workflow rather than copying the regular tax-invoice procedure; see Tally’s composition-sales guidance.
e-Invoice: a separate reporting step
An e-Invoice is a GST invoice reported to the Invoice Registration Portal (IRP) and returned with an Invoice Reference Number (IRN) and QR code when the transaction is legally covered. Eligibility depends on current government notifications, turnover, taxpayer category and exemptions; there is no universal threshold to apply to every business.
- Enable GST and set e-Invoicing applicable to Yes in the company GST details when applicable.
- Record the sales voucher with valid GSTIN, HSN/SAC, place-of-supply and other required data.
- Provide the e-Invoice details requested during voucher creation and submit through the configured TallyPrime exchange workflow.
- Verify the returned IRN, QR code and e-Invoice status before treating the document as reported.
See TallyPrime’s e-Invoice setup guidance. A locally printed invoice is not an e-Invoice unless it has completed the required IRP process.
e-Way Bill: transport compliance for goods
An e-Way Bill concerns movement of goods and is not automatically required for every GST invoice. Requirements and thresholds depend on the applicable rules, movement and transaction details.
- Register on the e-Way Bill portal and create the API user profile required for the integration.
- When following Tally’s documented route, select Tally India Private Limited as the GSP.
- Enable e-Way Bill in the company’s GST features and enter the relevant transport and threshold settings.
- Record the sale with invoice, dispatch, transporter, vehicle and other required movement data.
- Generate or send the e-Way Bill through TallyPrime, then check its status.
The API credentials are distinct from ordinary e-Way Bill login credentials. Follow Tally’s one-time e-Way Bill setup instructions.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Common errors and recovery steps
IGST appears instead of CGST and SGST, or vice versa
Reopen the voucher and check the supplier state, buyer and consignee states, customer registration details, Place of Supply and selected ledgers. Review Tax Analysis, correct the data and save only after the treatment matches the transaction.
HSN or SAC is missing or the wrong rate applies
Alter the stock item, service ledger or classification, enter the correct code and effective rate, then reopen the voucher and verify the result. Enable item-wise GST printing if the code is configured but not visible.
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GSTIN does not print
Confirm the company GSTIN in GST details, the party GSTIN in the customer ledger, the party’s registered status and the print option Print Company GSTIN Number. The selected invoice format must also contain the field.
e-Invoice or e-Way Bill submission fails
- Read the exact validation message.
- Correct GSTIN, HSN/SAC, place-of-supply, transport or API data.
- Revalidate and retry.
- Check reports or portal status before retrying to avoid duplicate generation.
- Do not create a second invoice merely because the first submission appears delayed.
Saved invoice needs correction
Alter the voucher and correct the underlying master data when appropriate. If the document has already been reported for e-Invoice or e-Way Bill purposes, check its status and follow the applicable cancellation or amendment process instead of silently creating a duplicate.
Choosing the right workflow
| Your situation | Use |
|---|---|
| Retail, wholesale, distribution or manufacturing with stock | Item Invoice |
| Consulting, agency or professional service without inventory | Accounting Invoice |
| Exempt supply or composition-taxpayer sale | Bill of Supply workflow |
| Eligible transaction requiring IRP reporting | GST voucher plus e-Invoice submission |
| Movement of goods covered by e-Way Bill rules | GST voucher plus e-Way Bill process |
TallyPrime is a strong fit when invoicing is part of accounting, inventory and India GST reporting. A freelancer needing only occasional invoices may prefer a lighter tool; cloud alternatives such as Zoho Books, Vyapar, BUSY or Marg ERP should be compared on current features and pricing rather than assumed to be equivalent.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I create a GST invoice without maintaining inventory?
Yes. Open the Sales voucher in Accounting Invoice mode and use a correctly configured service ledger with SAC and GST rate.
Can one TallyPrime invoice contain multiple GST rates?
Yes, provided each item or service master has the correct taxability and rate; inspect the line-level Tax Analysis before saving.
Is every printed GST invoice an e-Invoice?
No. An e-Invoice must be reported to the IRP and receive an IRN and QR code when the transaction is covered by the rules.
Do I need an e-Way Bill for every GST sale?
No. It relates to movement of goods and depends on the applicable rules and movement details.
Does TallyPrime guarantee GST compliance?
No. It calculates and presents tax from the data and settings entered. Legal classification, place of supply, rates and document requirements remain the taxpayer’s responsibility.
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