E-Invoicing in India: Everything You Need to Know (2026 Update)
E-invoicing confuses a lot of people. Is it a new type of invoice? Do I need special software? Will the government see all my invoices? Let's clear it all up.
Who needs to do this?
| Annual Turnover | E-Invoicing Required? | Since |
|---|---|---|
| Above ₹5 Cr | Yes, mandatory | Aug 2023 |
| ₹5-10 Cr | Yes, mandatory | Aug 2023 |
| ₹10-20 Cr | Yes, mandatory | Oct 2022 |
| Below ₹5 Cr | Not yet (expected soon) | — |
How it works (the flow)
You create an invoice (in your software)
Normal invoice with all the usual fields — buyer GSTIN, items, HSN, tax amounts, etc.
Your software sends it to NIC IRP
The Invoice Registration Portal validates the data and generates an IRN (Invoice Reference Number) — a unique 64-character hash.
NIC returns IRN + signed QR code
This QR code contains key invoice details and is digitally signed by NIC. It proves the invoice is registered.
You print/share the invoice with QR
Your invoice now has the IRN number and QR code. That's it. The invoice itself looks almost the same as before.
How Sally handles this
In Sally, e-invoicing is one click:
- ✓ Create your invoice as usual
- ✓ Click “Generate E-Invoice”
- ✓ Sally calls NIC IRP directly (no portal visit needed)
- ✓ IRN + QR code auto-saved on the invoice
- ✓ PDF includes the QR code automatically
You can also cancel an e-invoice within 24 hours if you made a mistake. After 24 hours, you'll need to issue a credit note instead.
Quick FAQ
Do I need to visit the e-invoice portal?
No. Sally connects directly via API. You never need to log into the NIC portal manually.
What about e-way bills?
If your invoice requires an e-way bill (goods > ₹50K, inter-state), Sally can generate that too in the same flow.
Does this auto-fill my GSTR-1?
Yes. E-invoiced B2B data is auto-populated in GSTR-1 by the GST portal. Less work for you.
Ready to try this yourself?
Sally ERP handles all of this — and more. Free trial, no credit card.
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