bilto
USD

Free Bill Generator

Create a GST bill online in minutes and download it as a PDF — no sign-up

In India, a "bill" is what most people call an invoice — the document you give a customer to record a sale and the GST on it. Whether you run a shop, work as a freelancer, or take on contract jobs, Bilto's free bill generator lets you create a clean, GST-ready bill online: add your GSTIN, list your items with their HSN or SAC codes, let the CGST/SGST or IGST calculate, and download a professional PDF.

There is no sign-up, no watermark, and no limit on the number of bills you can make. It works the same on a phone as on a computer, so you can generate a bill for a customer on the spot.

What is Bill vs invoice vs GST bill?

These words describe the same document in most Indian business use. A 'bill' is the everyday word; an 'invoice' is the formal term; a 'GST bill' or 'tax invoice' is the version a GST-registered seller issues, showing the GST charged so the buyer can claim input tax credit. If you are not registered for GST, you issue a plain bill of supply with no tax.

Examples:

  • Shopkeeper 'making a bill' = issuing a tax invoice
  • GST bill / tax invoice: shows GSTIN, HSN, and the GST amount
  • Bill of supply: no GST — used by composition dealers and for exempt goods

How to create a GST bill online

Six steps to a compliant GST bill you can download and send.

Estimated time: About 5 minutes

  1. 1

    Open the bill generator

    Go to Bilto's free bill generator. No account or sign-up is needed to create a bill and download it.

  2. 2

    Add your business details and GSTIN

    Enter your business name, address, and — if you are registered for GST — your 15-digit GSTIN. A registered seller's bill must show the GSTIN for the buyer to claim input tax credit.

  3. 3

    Add the buyer's details

    Enter the customer's name, address, and GSTIN if they are a registered business. For a bill of ₹50,000 or more to a registered buyer, their GSTIN and the place of supply are required.

  4. 4

    List items with HSN or SAC codes

    Add each product or service with its HSN code (for goods) or SAC code (for services), quantity, rate, and the applicable GST rate — 5%, 12%, 18%, or 28%.

  5. 5

    Let the GST split calculate

    For a sale within your own state, GST splits into CGST and SGST at half the rate each. For an inter-state sale, the full rate is charged as IGST. The generator handles the split once you set the rate.

  6. 6

    Number the bill and download

    Give the bill a serial number that continues your bill book series for the financial year, then preview and download it as a professional PDF ready to send.

GST bill format: what every bill should show

A GST bill follows a set format so your buyer — and the tax department — can read it at a glance. These are the fields a registered seller's tax invoice should carry:

FieldWhat it means
“Tax Invoice” headingMarks it as a GST bill rather than a quote or estimate
Your name & GSTINThe 15-digit GST identification number of the seller
Serial numberConsecutive, unique for the financial year, up to 16 characters
Date of issueThe date the bill is raised
Buyer's name & GSTINGSTIN and place of supply required for registered buyers at ₹50,000+
Item description + HSN/SACEach line with its HSN (goods) or SAC (services) code
Taxable valueThe price before GST, per line and in total
GST rate & amount5/12/18/28%, split into CGST+SGST or charged as IGST
Total payableTaxable value plus GST, the final amount due
SignaturePhysical or digital signature of the supplier or an authorised person

GST is charged at 5%, 12%, 18%, or 28% depending on the item, with 18% being the most common rate. On a sale within your own state the rate splits equally into CGST and SGST; on a sale to another state the full rate is charged as IGST.

Your bill book: numbering GST bills correctly

A "bill book" is simply your running series of bills, and GST rules are specific about how it is numbered. Each bill's serial number must be:

  • Consecutive — no gaps and no repeats within a financial year.
  • Unique for the financial year — the series typically resets each year (for example, on 1 April).
  • Up to 16 characters — letters, digits, and the / and - symbols are allowed, so a format like INV/2026-27/001 works well.

You can run more than one series — say, one per branch or per type of sale — as long as each stays consecutive on its own. A digital bill generator makes this easier than a paper bill book: you set the next number and the format stays consistent, so an audit of your bill book holds up.

Making a bill without GST

Not every bill carries GST. If your turnover is below the registration threshold — broadly ₹40 lakh for goods and ₹20 lakh for services (₹20 lakh and ₹10 lakh respectively in special category states) — you are not registered for GST, and you must not charge it or head the document "Tax Invoice". You issue a plain bill of supply instead: your details, the buyer's details, the items, and the amount, with no GST line. Businesses registered under the composition scheme also issue a bill of supply rather than a tax invoice. The generator can produce either — just leave the GST out when it does not apply.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a bill the same as an invoice in India?

For most everyday business, yes — 'bill' is the common word for what GST law calls a 'tax invoice'. When a shopkeeper, freelancer, or contractor says they will 'make a bill', they mean the invoice that records the sale and the GST charged on it. The document a GST-registered seller issues for a taxable sale is formally a tax invoice, and 'GST bill' is simply the everyday name for it. Bilto's generator produces this document; you can call it a bill or an invoice.

Is the bill generator really free?

Yes. You can create a bill and download it as a PDF at no cost, with no sign-up, no watermark, and no limit on how many bills you make. The site is supported by advertising, which is what keeps the tool free to use.

What must a GST bill include?

A GST tax invoice must show the words 'Tax Invoice', your name and GSTIN, a consecutive serial number for the financial year, the date, the buyer's name (and GSTIN plus place of supply if they are registered and the value is ₹50,000 or more), a description of each item with its HSN or SAC code, the taxable value, the GST rate, and the CGST/SGST or IGST amounts and total. Getting these right is what lets your buyer claim input tax credit.

What is a bill book and how should I number my bills?

A 'bill book' is your running series of bills. Under GST rules the serial number on each bill must be consecutive, unique for the financial year, and no longer than 16 characters — letters, numbers, and the / and - symbols are allowed. Many businesses use a prefix such as INV/2026-27/001. You can keep more than one series (for example, one per branch), but each must stay consecutive on its own. Reusing or skipping numbers is what creates problems in a GST audit.

Can I make a bill without GST?

Yes. If you are not registered for GST — because your turnover is below the ₹40 lakh threshold (₹20 lakh in special category states, and ₹20 lakh / ₹10 lakh for services) — you must not charge GST or call the document a tax invoice. You issue a plain bill of supply instead, showing your details and the amount, with no GST. A registered business under the composition scheme also issues a bill of supply rather than a tax invoice.

What is the difference between a tax invoice and a bill of supply?

A tax invoice is issued by a regular GST-registered seller for a taxable sale and shows the GST charged, so the buyer can claim input tax credit. A bill of supply is issued when no GST is charged — by a business under the composition scheme, or for exempt (GST-free) goods and services. It looks similar but shows no tax amount and must not be labelled a tax invoice.

What are HSN and SAC codes, and do I need them?

HSN (Harmonised System of Nomenclature) codes classify goods and SAC (Services Accounting Code) codes classify services. Whether you must print them, and how many digits, depends on your turnover: broadly, businesses above ₹5 crore use 6-digit codes, and those below use 4-digit codes on B2B bills. Showing the correct code for each line item is part of a compliant GST bill.

Can I create a bill online on my phone?

Yes. Bilto works in the browser on a phone, tablet, or computer, so you can create a bill online and download the PDF from wherever you are — useful for billing a customer on the spot rather than back at a desk.

Related tools and guides

Explore More