Generate an e-invoice (IRN)

Get an IRN and signed QR for a sales invoice, record an e-invoice made on the government portal, and cancel an IRN.

An e-invoice is a sales invoice registered with the government e-invoice system (IRP). The IRP gives it an IRN (Invoice Reference Number) and a signed QR code. Arthlekha sends the invoice for you and prints the QR on the invoice.

Before you start

• GST registration must be on, and your e-invoice login must be saved and Enabled. See GST configuration.
• Your GSTIN must be on Business Profile.
• The customer must have a correct GSTIN and address. See Customers.
• Every line needs a correct HSN or SAC code. On item invoices it comes from the product. On Accounting / Service invoices it comes from the income ledger's SAC in Chart of Accounts.
• Whether your business must issue e-invoices depends on your turnover. Check the current limit on the GST portal.

Generate from the invoice

1. Save the sales invoice and open it. See View, print and share an invoice.
2. Find the e-INVOICE card.
3. Click Generate IRN.
4. Wait for E-Invoice generated! IRN: .... The card now shows IRN Generated and the IRN number below it.
5. Click Print or PDF. The QR code and IRN print on the invoice straight away.

Generate from the Sales Register

1. Open the Sales Register.
2. Click the menu on the invoice's row.
3. Click Generate E-Invoice (IRN). The invoice opens and the IRN is requested at once.
4. Invoices that have an IRN show an IRN ✓ tag in the register.

Record an e-invoice made on the portal

Use this when the IRN was made outside Arthlekha, on the government e-invoice portal. Arthlekha then prints the invoice with that IRN and QR.

1. Open the invoice and find the e-INVOICE card.
2. Click Record offline. The box Record e-Invoice (generated offline) opens.
3. Choose one of the two options below.

Option A — Fetch from the portal

1. Click Fetch from portal.
2. Wait for E-Invoice fetched from portal! IRN: ....

This works only within 2 days of the IRN being made on the portal. After that, use Option B.

Option B — Paste the signed QR

1. On the e-invoice portal, copy the Signed QR Code text for the invoice. You can also copy the whole signed file you downloaded.
2. Paste it in Signed QR code or signed JSON.
3. Type the Ack No. (optional) if you have it. It is not needed for the QR.
4. Click Record e-Invoice. The IRN and date are read from the QR. This works for an invoice of any age.

Cancel an IRN

1. Open the invoice. In the e-INVOICE card, click Cancel.
2. Click OK on Cancel this E-Invoice IRN? This cannot be undone.
3. The card shows IRN cancelled.

The IRP allows cancelling only for a short time after the IRN is made. Check the current time limit on the e-invoice portal. Cancelling the IRN does not cancel the sale in your books. To cancel the invoice as well, use the Sales Register.

Services on an e-invoice

• A product line whose HSN/SAC code starts with 99 is sent as a service automatically. See Bill a service.
• On an Accounting / Service invoice, the SAC for each line comes from its income ledger.

Credit notes and debit notes

• A sales return credit note can get its own e-invoice from the credit note screen.
• A debit note raised on a customer can also get an e-invoice. See Debit note.

Common problems

• HSN-xxxxxx does not belong to good — a service code (SAC) is on a line sent as goods. Check the HSN/SAC on the product and correct it, then generate again.
• IRN already generated: ... — this invoice already has an IRN. Nothing more is needed.
• IRN already recorded: ... — an IRN is already saved on this invoice.
• Company GSTIN not set in business profile. — add your GSTIN on Business Profile.
• NIC E-Invoice credentials required. Go to Settings > GST API Settings ... — save your e-invoice username and password in part 2 of GST configuration.
• E-Invoice API error: ... — the IRP rejected the invoice. Read the message after the colon, correct that field on the invoice, customer or product, and try again.
• The IRP returned no signed QR for this document ... — the IRN is more than 2 days old. Use Option B and paste the signed QR.
• No SignedQRCode found in the pasted data. — the wrong text was pasted. Copy the Signed QR Code again from the portal.
• Could not parse the pasted JSON. Paste just the SignedQRCode string instead. — the pasted file is incomplete. Paste only the signed QR text.
• No Generate IRN button — GST registration is off, or e-invoice is not Enabled in GST configuration.

Related

• GST configuration
• e-way bill
• View, print and share an invoice
• Bill a service
• Credit note

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