Seeking free GST billing program that’s genuinely valuable—and compliant? This manual describes what “no cost” generally involves, where by hidden expenses creep in, And just how To guage freemium applications without 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 expenses, GSTR-Prepared exports,multi-user controls, inspection trails — often sit prior to paid types. That’s forfeiture, provided that you know the bounds and the exact second to improve( e.g., whenever you crosse-Bill thresholds or get started Recurrent products movement).
Non-negotiable compliance Fundamentals (even on free designs)
one.E-invoice readiness (IRN + signed QR)
If you're 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 on the Bill. (That’s how an invoice results in being “registered”.)
two.Dynamic QR on B2C (only for incredibly massive enterprises)
B2C invoices of taxpayers with aggregate turnover > ₹five hundred crore require a dynamic QR code. MSMEs ordinarily don’t will need this—don’t pay for options you gained’t use.
three.E-way Invoice support
Motion of products normally over ₹fifty,000 demands an e-way Monthly bill. A free of charge Software need to a minimum of export accurate information for EWB technology, even when API integration is compensated.
four.Clear GSTR exports
Your application ought to develop GSTR-1/3B-Prepared Excel/JSON to stay away from rework. This matters additional in 2025 as GSTR-3B is being tightened/locked, pushing corrections through GSTR-one/1A instead of guide edits.
five.Time-Restrict alerts for e-invoice reporting
From 1 April 2025, taxpayers with AATO ≥ ₹10 crore ought to report invoices to an IRP within 30 days of issuance. Your software package ought to warn you properly ahead of the window closes.
2025 modifications to program for (don’t get caught out)
GSTR-3B tightening/locking from July 2025: Edits to car-populated liabilities are increasingly being limited; corrections flow by means of GSTR-1A. This rewards “initially-time-ideal” information in GSTR-1 and penalizes sloppy invoicing.
Three-yr time-bar on returns: Filing over and above 3 yrs from primary thanks day received’t be more info authorized on the portal, growing the cost of errors and delays.
Characteristic checklist totally free GST billing software package
Compliance
E-Bill JSON export that validates from IRP specs; capacity to print IRN/QR immediately after registration.
E-way Invoice knowledge export (Portion-A/Portion-B) with distance/automobile fields.
GSTR-1/3B desk-Completely ready exports aligned to latest portal habits.
Invoicing & objects
HSN/SAC masters, spot-of-provide logic, RCM flags, credit/debit notes.
GSTIN verification and tax calculations that follow NIC/IRP schema anticipations.
Knowledge, safety & Handle
Year-intelligent doc vault (PDF, JSON, CSV) and total information export—avoid lock-ins.
Job-dependent accessibility; fundamental exercise logs; two-component signal-in parity with government programs.
Scalability
A clear enhance path for IRP/e-way API integration and multi-person workflows if you expand.
A ten-minute analysis circulation (actionable)
one.Map your use situations: B2B or B2C? Solutions or merchandise with movement? Ordinary invoice quantity?
2.Generate 3 take a look at invoices: B2B regular, B2C, in addition to a credit score Take note. Validate IRP JSON/export; validate QR/IRN print structure.
3.Export GSTR-1/3B: Open up in Excel and check table mapping with all your CA.
4.Simulate an e-way Invoice: Guarantee exports have needed fields and threshold logic.
five.Look at guardrails: App reminders for thirty-working day IRP reporting and 3B locking implications; your procedure need to prioritize mistake-free of charge GSTR-one.
No cost vs. freemium vs. open-supply—what’s most secure?
No cost/freemium SaaS: quickest commence; validate export quality and the cost of “unlocking” e-invoice/EWB APIs later on.
Open up-resource/self-hosted: maximum Handle, but it's essential to track NIC e-invoice FAQs/spec adjustments and retain schema parity—if not IRP rejections rise.
Security & info ownership (non-negotiable)
Insist on:
On-need CSV/Excel/JSON exports; your facts stays moveable.
Doc vault with FY folders—helpful for banking companies, audits, and inspections.
Basic copyright and usage logs, mirroring the security posture on government portals.
Fast FAQs
Is actually a cost-free app ample for e-invoicing?
Generally no—you’ll probable have to have a paid out connector for IRP API calls. But an excellent cost-free prepare need to export entirely compliant JSON and let you print IRN/QR right after registration.
Do MSMEs need a dynamic B2C QR?
Only taxpayers with AATO > ₹five hundred crore have to have dynamic QR on B2C invoices. Most MSMEs don’t.
When can be an e-way Monthly bill necessary?
Normally for movement of products valued earlier mentioned ₹50,000, with state-amount nuances and validity policies.
What transformed for returns in 2025?
GSTR-3B is getting locked/tightened from July 2025; corrections move by using GSTR-1A. Also, returns develop into time-barred soon after three decades from owing date. Approach for accuracy upfront.
What about e-Bill reporting timelines?
From 1 April 2025, corporations with AATO ≥ ₹10 crore will have to report invoices to an IRP within just 30 times of concern; established reminders in order to avoid invalid invoices.
Credible resources 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'll be able to Unquestionably begin with a free GST billing app—just be certain it exports compliant IRP/GSTR/EWB info and supports a sleek improve route. 2025 rules reward 1st-time-ideal invoicing and timely reporting, so decide software that keeps you precise by design and warns you ahead of deadlines strike.