Quick answer
A GST invoice for an online order needs your GSTIN, a unique serial number, date, buyer details, HSN codes, taxable value, the right tax split (CGST and SGST within your state, IGST outside it) and place of supply. Built-in invoicing saves fees and mistakes; an add-on app works but is one more thing to pay for.
If you are registered for GST, every online order needs a correct tax invoice, and your store platform either produces one for you or leaves you to find an add-on. Built-in invoicing is usually simpler and cheaper, because the invoice uses the same product, price and address data as the order, with nothing to sync. An app can do the job too, but you pay for it, you set it up separately, and you have to check that it keeps up with your products and the rules.
This post explains what a GST invoice for an online sale must show, the mistakes that cause trouble at filing time, and what to ask any platform before you choose it. It is general information; for your own business, confirm details with your CA.
What must a GST invoice for an online order show?
The invoice rules under the CGST Rules list what a tax invoice should contain. For a typical online store selling goods, that means:
- Your details: business name, address and GSTIN.
- A serial number: consecutive and unique for the financial year.
- Date of issue.
- The buyer's name and address, and their GSTIN if they are a registered business buying from you.
- Delivery address, if different from the billing address.
- Description, quantity and HSN code for each item.
- Taxable value after any discount.
- Tax rate and amount, split as CGST and SGST (or UTGST) for a sale within your state, or IGST for a sale to another state.
- Place of supply, with the state name, for sales to another state.
- Signature or digital signature of you or your authorised person.
Our GST basics for online sellers explains registration and returns if you are new to all this.
CGST and SGST or IGST: how is it decided?
For goods delivered to a customer, the place of supply is generally where the goods are delivered. If your business and the delivery address are in the same state, you charge CGST and SGST, each at half the rate. If the delivery is to another state, you charge IGST at the full rate. Say you are in Tamil Nadu and sell a product for ₹1,180 including GST, taxed at 18% for this example: to a buyer in Chennai the tax is split ₹90 CGST and ₹90 SGST; to a buyer in Pune it is ₹180 IGST. The total is the same, but it is reported differently, so getting it wrong creates corrections later.
How many HSN digits do you need?
Since April 2021, the requirement depends on turnover: businesses with aggregate turnover up to ₹5 crore in the previous year must show at least 4-digit HSN codes on invoices to registered buyers, and businesses above ₹5 crore must show 6 digits on all invoices. Rules change, so check the current position with your CA. Our guide to HSN codes and GST rates shows how to find the right code.
Built-in or add-on: what is the difference in practice?
| Question | Built into the store | Add-on app |
|---|---|---|
| Extra monthly cost | None beyond the plan | Often a monthly fee |
| Product HSN and GST rate | Set on the product itself | Usually set again in the app |
| Tax split by state | Worked out at checkout from the address | Depends on the app's setup |
| Invoice numbering | One sequence with the orders | Separate sequence to keep in step |
| When things change | One place to update | Two places, and an app update to wait for |
Neither approach is wrong. A good app on a platform you already love may be fine. But every extra app is a cost, a login and a place where data can drift. The post on how paid apps add up for Indian sellers shows how small monthly fees stack.
What about Shopify and GST invoices?
Shopify is built for selling in many countries, and India-specific needs are often handled through settings, templates or apps from its app store. If you are on Shopify or considering it, check Shopify's help centre and app store for what is available for GST invoices today, and add any app fee to your monthly cost. As listed on shopify.com/in/pricing on 20 October 2026, Shopify Basic is ₹1,994 a month on monthly billing, plus a 2% third-party transaction fee on orders paid through a provider like Razorpay, because Shopify Payments is not available for businesses in India. Shopify changes prices and offers from time to time, so check Shopify's current pricing. Our UpMinutes and Shopify comparison lays the costs side by side.
How does UpMinutes handle GST invoices?
GST invoicing is part of every UpMinutes plan, with no app to add:
- Add your GSTIN in the dashboard.
- Set an HSN code and GST rate on each product.
- Choose whether your prices include GST (usual in India) or have GST added on top.
- Each order gets a numbered GST invoice PDF with your logo, and the tax is split as CGST and SGST or IGST from the shopper's state.
- Print invoices in bulk with packing slips, and download tax reports for any dates as CSV or PDF.
Plans start at ₹500 a month, and every price includes 18% GST, with a GST invoice for your own subscription too. See the pricing page for what each plan includes.
Common GST invoice mistakes in online stores
- Wrong state on the address. The tax split follows the state, so a Bengaluru PIN code with "Kerala" selected gives the wrong tax. UpMinutes alerts you when the PIN code's state differs from the chosen state.
- One GST rate for everything. A gift hamper with dry fruits, a candle and a brass diya may contain items at different rates. Set rates per product.
- Discounts in the wrong place. Tax is on the value after a discount shown on the invoice. Coupons should reduce the taxable value, not appear as a separate negative line with no tax effect.
- Gaps in numbering. Hand-made invoices in a spreadsheet drift. Let the system number them.
- Gift cards taxed twice. In UpMinutes, no GST is charged on the gift card itself; GST applies when the card is spent on goods. Discuss gift card treatment with your CA.
A checklist before you pick a platform
- Can I enter my GSTIN and get invoices with my logo?
- Can I set HSN code and GST rate per product?
- Does it choose CGST+SGST or IGST from the delivery state automatically?
- Can I choose inclusive or exclusive pricing?
- Can I download a tax report for my CA, and bulk-print invoices?
- Is any of this an extra app with its own fee?
If the answers are yes, yes, yes, yes, yes and no, you are in good shape. To try built-in GST invoices with your own products, start a 14-day free trial; no card needed. Shopify is a trademark of Shopify Inc. UpMinutes is not affiliated with Shopify.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to give a GST invoice for every online order?
If you are registered for GST and sell taxable goods, you generally issue a tax invoice for each sale. Your CA can confirm the rules for your products and any simplified options for small B2C sales.
Should the customer's GSTIN be on the invoice?
Only when a registered business buys from you and gives its GSTIN, so it can claim input tax credit. For ordinary shoppers, their name and address are enough.
Is IGST charged on orders to other states?
Yes, for goods the place of supply is generally the delivery state, so an order delivered outside your state carries IGST, and one inside your state carries CGST and SGST.
Can I change my invoice format later?
You can update details like your logo or address at any time, but keep invoice numbers in one unbroken sequence for each financial year.
