GST: Physical Invoice need not be carried when E-Invoice has been issued, says CBIC [Read Circular]

Physical invoice - e-invoice - CBIC - Taxscan

The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) clarified that the physical invoice need not be carried when e-invoice has been issued.

The Board has received representation on the issue whether carrying a physical copy of invoice is compulsory during movement of goods in cases where suppliers have issued invoices in the manner prescribed under rule 48 (4) of the CGST Rules, 2017 (i.e. in cases of e-invoice).

The CBIC clarified that Rule 138A (1) of the CGST Rules, 2017 inter-alia, provides that the person in charge of a conveyance shall carry the invoice or bill of supply or delivery challan, as the case may be; and a copy of the e-way bill or the e-way bill number, either physically or mapped to a Radio Frequency Identification Device embedded on to the conveyance in such manner as may be notified by the Commissioner.

Further, rule 138A (2) of CGST Rules, after being amended vide notification No. 72/2020-Central Tax dated 30.09.2020, states that “In case, invoice is issued in the manner prescribed under sub-rule (4) of rule 48, the Quick Reference (QR) code having an embedded Invoice Reference Number (IRN) in it, may be produced electronically, for verification by the proper officer in lieu of the physical copy of such tax invoice”

A conjoint reading of rules 138A (1) and 138A (2) of CGST Rules, 2017 clearly indicates that there is no requirement to carry the physical copy of tax invoice in cases where e-invoice has been generated by the supplier. After amendment, the revised rule 138A (2) states in unambiguous words that whenever e- invoice has been generated, the Quick Reference (QR) code, having an embedded Invoice Reference Number (IRN) in it, may be produced electronically for verification by the proper officer in lieu of the physical copy of such tax invoice.

Accordingly, the Board clarified that there is no need to carry the physical copy of tax invoice in cases where invoice has been generated by the supplier in the manner prescribed under rule 48(4) of the CGST Rules and production of the Quick Response (QR) code having an embedded Invoice Reference Number (IRN) electronically, for verification by the proper officer, would suffice.

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