Does the Excel file calculate GST automatically?

The tool calculates it for you before you download. The file then holds the finished numbers: taxable value, CGST and SGST (or IGST), and the total. It does not hold formulas, so Excel will not recalculate them if you change a quantity or price in a cell. For a big change, go back to the tool, fix the form and download a fresh file.

Is an Excel invoice valid for GST?

GST asks for certain details on a tax invoice, such as GSTINs, a number, a date, the HSN or SAC code, the value and the tax. It does not say the file must be a PDF or any other format. Still, most sellers send the buyer a PDF, because an Excel sheet is easy to change by mistake.

Can I download a bill of supply or a credit note as Excel too?

Yes. The bill of supply, credit/debit note, quotation and purchase order tools all have a Download Excel button. They use the same engine as the invoice tool.

Is it free, and do I need to sign up?

It is free and needs no sign-up. The invoice is built in your browser and the file is saved straight to your device.

Excel Invoice Template for GST Invoices (Free)

You can make a full GST invoice and save it as an Excel (.xlsx) file in about a minute. Fill in the form on the Excel Invoice Generator, then press Download Excel instead of Download PDF. There is no sign-up and no watermark.

This post explains when Excel is the better choice, what the file contains, and what to watch out for.

The short answer

Open the Excel Invoice Generator.
Add your details and the buyer's details. If you save them under My Business, they fill in by themselves next time.
Add each item with its HSN or SAC code, quantity, price and GST rate.
Check the totals, then press Download Excel.

The page uses the same engine as the Invoice Generator. The only difference is the file you get at the end.

When Excel is better than PDF

A PDF is best for sending to a customer, because nobody can change it by accident. Excel is better in these cases:

You are sending it to your accountant. They can copy the figures straight into the books.
You want to edit it freely. You can fix a line, add a column or add a note without filling the form again.
You are matching it with your records. You can sort and filter many invoices once they sit in one workbook.
You want to keep a record in your own format. Some businesses keep every invoice as a sheet.

If you are not sure, download both. The two buttons sit next to each other.

What is in the file

The Excel file shows the same things as the PDF:

the document title, invoice number and date,
your name, address and GSTIN, and the buyer's name, address and GSTIN,
the place of supply, and the reverse charge line where it applies,
one row for each item with description, HSN or SAC, quantity, unit price, GST rate and taxable value,
the subtotal, then CGST and SGST for a sale inside your state or IGST for a sale to another state,
the grand total and the amount in words,
your bank details or UPI ID, and any notes.

So the GST fields that a tax invoice needs are all there. If you want to know what each field must show, see the bill of supply vs tax invoice post.

A worked example

You sell clothes from Maharashtra to a registered shop in Maharashtra. Three lines go on the invoice. The rates here are only to show how the sheet adds up; look up your own with the HSN code finder.

Item	Qty	Price	Taxable value	GST %	GST
Cotton shirts	50	₹800	₹40,000	5%	₹2,000
Cotton trousers	20	₹1,200	₹24,000	5%	₹1,200
Jackets	10	₹3,000	₹30,000	18%	₹5,400

The jackets cost more than ₹2,500 a piece, so they fall in the higher slab. See the new GST rates post for the apparel rule.

Both of you are in Maharashtra, so this is a sale inside the state. The tool picks "Intra-state" when it sees the same state code at the start of both GSTINs. The Excel sheet then shows:

Subtotal: ₹94,000
CGST: ₹4,300
SGST: ₹4,300
Total: ₹1,02,600

The GST of ₹8,600 is split in two halves, one for the Centre (CGST) and one for the State (SGST).

Now the buyer is in Karnataka. Nothing else changes, but the tool switches to "Inter-state". The sheet shows a single line, IGST ₹8,600, and the same total of ₹1,02,600. The place of supply changes to Karnataka. The tax is the same; only the way it is split is different.

Change the buyer's GSTIN, or flip the Intra/Inter switch, to see this yourself before you download.

Things to watch out for

The totals are numbers, not formulas. If you change a price in Excel, the total will not follow. Change the form and download again instead.
Keep one number series. Each invoice number must be used once in a financial year. Do not save two different sheets with the same number.
Do not edit an invoice you already gave. Once the buyer has it, fix mistakes with a credit note or a debit note, not by editing the old file.
Send a PDF to the customer. Keep the Excel file for yourself and your accountant.
Check the HSN code. A wrong code or rate shows up in the file just as it does in the PDF. Read how to find an HSN code if you are unsure.

Sources

Tax Invoice and other instruments under GST: GST Council flyer

This post is correct as of 17 October 2026. The tool does the sums for you, but you are still responsible for the HSN code, rate and place of supply on your invoice. This is not legal or tax advice. Ask your CA if you are unsure.