Provisions under Section 31 of the Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) Act, 2017 relating to “Tax Invoice”:

Section 31 of CGST Act 2017: Tax Invoice (CHAPTER VII – TAX INVOICE, CREDIT AND DEBIT NOTES)

Section 31 of CGST Act 2017: Tax Invoice

(1) A registered person supplying taxable goods shall, before or at the time of,—

(a) removal of goods for supply to the recipient, where the supply involves movement of goods; or

(b) delivery of goods or making available thereof to the recipient, in any other case,

issue a tax invoice showing the description, quantity and value of goods, the tax charged thereon and such other particulars as may be prescribed:

Provided that the Government may, on the recommendations of the Council, by notification, specify the categories of goods or supplies in respect of which a tax invoice shall be issued, within such time and in such manner as may be prescribed.

(2) A registered person supplying taxable services shall, before or after the provision of service but within a prescribed period, issue a tax invoice, showing the description, value, tax charged thereon and such other particulars as may be prescribed:

Provided that the Government may, on the recommendations of the Council, by notification,-

(a) specify the categories of services or supplies in respect of which a tax invoice shall be issued, within such time and in such manner as may be prescribed;

(b) subject to the condition mentioned therein, specify the categories of services in respect of which-

(i) any other document issued in relation to the supply shall be deemed to be a tax invoice; or

(ii) tax invoice may not be issued. [substituted proviso from 01/01/2021: refer Note 1]

(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-sections (1) and (2)–

(a) a registered person may, within one month from the date of issuance of certificate of registration and in such manner as may be prescribed, issue a revised invoice against the invoice already issued during the period beginning with the effective date of registration till the date of issuance of certificate of registration to him;

(b) a registered person may not issue a tax invoice if the value of the goods or services or both supplied is less than two hundred rupees subject to such conditions and in such manner as may be prescribed;

(c) a registered person supplying exempted goods or services or both or paying tax under the provisions of section 10 shall issue, instead of a tax invoice, a bill of supply containing such particulars and in such manner as may be prescribed:

Provided that the registered person may not issue a bill of supply if the value of the goods or services or both supplied is less than two hundred rupees subject to such conditions and in such manner as may be prescribed;

(d) a registered person shall, on receipt of advance payment with respect to any supply of goods or services or both, issue a receipt voucher or any other document, containing such particulars as may be prescribed, evidencing receipt of such payment;

(e) where, on receipt of advance payment with respect to any supply of goods or services or both the registered person issues a receipt voucher, but subsequently no supply is made and no tax invoice is issued in pursuance thereof, the said registered person may issue to the person who had made the payment, a refund voucher against such payment;

(f) a registered person who is liable to pay tax under sub-section (3) or sub-section (4) of section 9 shall issue an invoice in respect of goods or services or both received by him from the supplier who is not registered on the date of receipt of goods or services or both;

(g) a registered person who is liable to pay tax under sub-section (3) or sub-section (4) of section 9 shall issue a payment voucher at the time of making payment to the supplier.

(4) In case of continuous supply of goods, where successive statements of accounts or successive payments are involved, the invoice shall be issued before or at the time each such statement is issued or, as the case may be, each such payment is received.

(5) Subject to the provisions of clause (d) of sub-section (3), in case of continuous supply of services,–

(a) where the due date of payment is ascertainable from the contract, the invoice shall be issued on or before the due date of payment;

(b) where the due date of payment is not ascertainable from the contract, the invoice shall be issued before or at the time when the supplier of service receives the payment;

(c) where the payment is linked to the completion of an event, the invoice shall be issued on or before the date of completion of that event.

(6) In a case where the supply of services ceases under a contract before the completion of the supply, the invoice shall be issued at the time when the supply ceases and such invoice shall be issued to the extent of the supply made before such cessation.

(7) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), where the goods being sent or taken on approval for sale or return are removed before the supply takes place, the invoice shall be issued before or at the time of supply or six months from the date of removal, whichever is earlier.

Explanation: For the purposes of this section, the expression “tax invoice” shall include any revised invoice issued by the supplier in respect of a supply made earlier.

Note: CBEC notifies 01/07/2017 as the commencement date vide Notification 9/2017.

Amendments History:

1. Proviso to sub-section (2) substituted vide Section 123 of the Finance Act 2020, followed with Notification 92/2020 on commencement date of 01/01/2021. Proviso before substitution:

Provided that the Government may, on the recommendations of the Council, by notification and subject to such conditions as may be mentioned therein, specify the categories of services in respect of which,- (a) any other document issued in relation to the supply shall be deemed to be a tax invoice; or (b) tax invoice may not be issued. [proviso substituted from 01/01/2021: refer Note 1]

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CGST Act 2017: Last updated 15/02/2024
The CGST Act 2017 has been notified vide GOI Notification dated 12/04/2017, which has subsequently been amended through the CGST (Extension to J&K) Act 2017, Finance Act 2018, CGST Amendment Act 2018, Finance Act 2019, Finance Act 2020, Taxation and Other Laws (Relaxation of Certain Provisions) Ordinance/Act 2020, Finance Act 2021, Finance Act 2022, Finance Act 2023, CGST Amendment Act 2023, CGST Second Amendment Act 2023Finance Act, 2024 including various Notifications/Orders issued by the Govt./ CBIC from time to time, relating to the commencement dates of various sections and provisions in the respective CGST/Amendment Acts, wherever required. Information on this page is a section-wise compilation of the amendments to the CGST Act, 2017 made through various notifications issued by CBIC from time to time (upto 15th February, 2024), with the best possible efforts for accuracy. In any case, E&OE. For official or updated information, please visit the CBIC website.

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