On the lookout for totally free GST billing program that’s genuinely valuable—and compliant? This manual points out what “no cost” typically incorporates, where hidden fees creep in, And just how To judge freemium applications with out risking penalties. It’s composed for house owners, accountants, and CAs who benefit precision, velocity, and credible resources.
Exactly what does “no cost” really go over?
Most “cost-free” or freemium options Provide you Main invoicing with restrictions (prospects/items/month-to-month invoices). Superior GST capabilities —e-invoicing( IRN QR),e-way payments, GSTR-Prepared exports,multi-user controls, inspection trails — often sit prior to paid categories. That’s forfeiture, provided that you know the bounds and the precise second to improve( e.g., whenever you crosse-invoice thresholds or start Recurrent products movement).
Non-negotiable compliance Essentials (even on totally free plans)
one.E-invoice readiness (IRN + signed QR)
In case you are under the e-invoicing mandate, your program ought to generate schema-valid JSON, report back to the Invoice Registration Portal (IRP), and print the signed QR/IRN around the Bill. (That’s how an invoice becomes “registered”.)
two.Dynamic QR on B2C (only for pretty substantial enterprises)
B2C invoices of taxpayers with mixture turnover > ₹five hundred crore demand a dynamic QR code. MSMEs usually don’t have to have this—don’t purchase features you gained’t use.
3.E-way Invoice assistance
Motion of goods commonly previously mentioned ₹fifty,000 calls for an e-way bill. A cost-free Instrument should really at the least export correct knowledge for EWB generation, whether or not API integration is compensated.
4.Cleanse GSTR exports
Your app need to produce GSTR-1/3B-All set Excel/JSON to avoid rework. This matters extra in 2025 as GSTR-3B is getting tightened/locked, pushing corrections by means of GSTR-1/1A as opposed to handbook edits.
five.Time-limit alerts for e-invoice reporting
From 1 April 2025, taxpayers with AATO ≥ ₹ten crore will have to report invoices to an IRP inside of thirty times of issuance. Your software must alert you perfectly before the window closes.
2025 adjustments to system for (don’t get caught out)
GSTR-3B tightening/locking from July 2025: Edits to vehicle-populated liabilities are being restricted; corrections movement by way of GSTR-1A. This benefits “to start with-time-correct” info in GSTR-one and penalizes sloppy invoicing.
3-12 months time-bar on returns: Submitting further than a few years from authentic because of date won’t be allowed within the portal, rising the price of faults and delays.
Element checklist without spending a dime GST billing software
Compliance
E-invoice JSON export that validates against IRP specs; power to print IRN/QR after registration.
E-way Monthly bill details export (Section-A/Section-B) with length/car or truck fields.
GSTR-1/3B table-ready exports aligned to present-day portal actions.
Invoicing & goods
HSN/SAC masters, position-of-offer logic, RCM flags, credit score/debit notes.
GSTIN verification and tax calculations that adhere to NIC/IRP schema expectations.
Details, protection & Management
Yr-wise doc vault (PDF, JSON, CSV) and entire info export—steer clear of lock-ins.
Role-centered entry; simple activity logs; two-component signal-in parity with authorities units.
Scalability
A transparent upgrade route for IRP/e-way API integration and multi-user workflows after you improve.
A 10-moment evaluation stream (actionable)
1.Map your use conditions: B2B or B2C? Companies or goods with motion? Average Bill quantity?
2.Build 3 exam invoices: B2B common, B2C, and a credit rating note. Validate IRP JSON/export; affirm QR/IRN print structure.
3.Export GSTR-one/3B: Open up in Excel and Examine desk mapping together with your CA.
four.Simulate an e-way Monthly bill: Make sure exports have required fields and threshold logic.
5.Test guardrails: App reminders for 30-day IRP reporting and 3B locking implications; your system must prioritize mistake-free GSTR-1.
Absolutely free vs. freemium vs. open up-source—what’s safest?
Absolutely free/freemium SaaS: fastest begin; confirm export excellent and the cost of “unlocking” e-invoice/EWB APIs later on.
Open-supply/self-hosted: most Manage, but you should keep track of NIC e-Bill FAQs/spec changes and preserve schema parity—usually IRP rejections increase.
Stability & data ownership (non-negotiable)
Insist on:
On-demand CSV/Excel/JSON exports; your information stays transportable.
Document vault with FY folders—useful for banking institutions, audits, and inspections.
Primary copyright and use logs, mirroring the safety posture on govt portals.
Brief FAQs
Is a totally free app sufficient for e-invoicing?
Frequently no—you’ll probably need a paid connector for IRP API phone calls. But a good free plan should export fully compliant JSON and allow you to print IRN/QR just after registration.
Do MSMEs have to have a dynamic B2C QR?
Only taxpayers with AATO > ₹500 crore want dynamic QR on B2C invoices. Most MSMEs don’t.
When is surely an e-way bill read more required?
Ordinarily for motion of goods valued above ₹fifty,000, with condition-level nuances and validity rules.
What improved for returns in 2025?
GSTR-3B is staying locked/tightened from July 2025; corrections transfer by way of GSTR-1A. Also, returns become time-barred just after 3 many years from thanks date. Strategy for precision upfront.
What about e-Bill reporting timelines?
From 1 April 2025, businesses with AATO ≥ ₹ten crore should report invoices to an IRP in just 30 times of situation; set reminders to stop invalid invoices.
Credible sources for further reading through
NIC e-Bill portal & FAQs (IRN, signed QR, cancellation).
CBIC circular on Dynamic B2C QR (Notification fourteen/2020 + clarifications).
E-way Bill FAQs (regulations, thresholds, validity).
GSTR-3B tightening/locking: mainstream coverage & practitioner Investigation.
30-working day e-Bill reporting limit (AATO ≥ ₹ten cr): practitioner advisories summarising GSTN updates.
You are able to Certainly start with a absolutely free GST billing app—just guarantee it exports compliant IRP/GSTR/EWB data and supports a easy enhance path. 2025 policies reward first-time-appropriate invoicing and well timed reporting, so pick application that retains you accurate by layout and warns you before deadlines hit.