Is Serial Numbering on Invoices Essential for My Startup's Legitimacy Under GST?

Dear Mates,

I'm a new startup of a proprietorship firm (Registered Under Service Tax / GST / Turnover 15 Lacs) and want to know if serial numbering on the invoice will be compulsory. For example, INV0001, INV0002, etc.

Until now, I have been sending invoices based on the customer's UID such as:

Customer UID: 785881
Invoice No.: INV/785881/1, etc.

So what can I do? Because I'll get more business if I use INV0001, etc., as customers will then be able to see that I am a legitimate business.

Looking for serious help. Thanks.

Avika, thank you for the information. So, you mean to say I cannot use serial numbers based on Customer UID?

Dear Vijay,

No need to register in GST to the extent of a turnover of 20 Lacs. However, no exemption of 20 Lacs shall be available if you receive or supply any interstate goods and services. With regard to the serial number on the invoice, you can opt for any method, i.e., INV0001, INV0002, or INV/785881/1, but make sure the total digits do not exceed 16.

Thanks and Regards,

V. Shakya
HR and Labour, Corporate Laws Advisor

Dear V. Shakya,

Thanks for confirming that we'll continue to use the following. I hope I was able to clarify that we'll be using an invoice based on the customer ID and, as you said, it should not exceed a 16-digit alphanumeric invoice number.

Customer UID: 785881
Invoice No.: INV/785881/1, etc.

Customer UID: 785882
Invoice No.: INV/785882/1, INV/785882/2, INV/785882/3, etc.

Customer UID: 785883
Invoice No.: INV/785883/1, INV/785883/2, etc.

Thanks