Invoice Without GST Number (Not Registered): Format and Example
How to invoice without a GST number in India: what an unregistered seller's invoice must show, what to leave off, and a worked example.
By Swotboysandy 2 min read
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You can send an invoice without a GST number if you are not GST registered. It is an ordinary request for payment for work completed. It must not pretend to be a GST tax invoice or add GST that you cannot collect.
Use a clear, ordinary invoice
Put “Invoice” at the top. Add your name or trading name and contact details, the client’s name, a unique invoice number, the date, and a description of the work. State the agreed price, any discount, the total due, the payment deadline, and how the client can pay. A line such as “Website maintenance, September 2026 — one month” is more useful than “Services.”
For example, if you agreed to charge ₹12,000 for a design project, the line item and total due can both be ₹12,000. Do not add a “GST 0%” line merely to fill a tax-invoice template. If the client’s accounts team needs an explanation, “Supplier is not registered under GST; no GST has been charged” is clearer than an empty GSTIN box.
Keep GST terms accurate
Leave out the supplier GSTIN field when you have no GSTIN. Never borrow another business’s number. The client may have a GSTIN, but that does not turn your document into a GST tax invoice. Do not show a GST amount or suggest the client can claim input tax credit from tax that was never charged.
“Bill of supply” has a specific place in the GST rules for registered suppliers making exempt supplies or using the composition scheme. It is not a universal label for an unregistered freelancer’s document. The CBIC GST FAQs explain that distinction. Section 32 of the CGST Act says an unregistered person must not collect GST.
Make payment straightforward
Include a purchase order or project reference if the client uses one. For a bank transfer, check the account name, number, and IFSC before sending. A UPI ID or QR code can be an extra option where suitable. Ask the client to include the invoice number in its payment reference, then save a copy of the PDF you sent.
If the scope or price changes, send a corrected document with a clear explanation instead of silently replacing the earlier one. Whether you need GST registration is a separate question that depends on your circumstances. Do not infer your status from an invoice template; check the current rules or ask a qualified tax professional when unsure.
Create the PDF and check it
Invoiceful lets you choose a template, enter the job and payment details, and download a PDF in your browser. It is free, needs no account, adds no watermark, and does not store invoices on its server. If you are not GST registered, leave GST fields blank and do not add a GST amount. You can include a UPI QR code if you use one.
Before sending, check the client name, invoice number, work description, total, and payment details against the agreement. Then download and send the PDF yourself. Invoiceful does not send invoices, collect payment, do bookkeeping, or file tax returns.
Ready to make one? Create a free invoice without a GSTIN and leave the GST fields empty.
