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Invoice template

Freelancer invoice format for India

Fill in the form below and the invoice builds as you type. It starts as a plain invoice with no GST, which is what most freelancers below the registration limit send. Switch to a GST invoice if you are registered.

GST registrationNeeded above ₹20 lakh a year for services (₹10 lakh in special category states)
Not registeredSend a plain invoice with no GST line. You can't charge GST.
Client TDS10% on professional fees once payments pass ₹50,000 a year
Foreign clients0% GST under an LUT. See the export invoice format.
Save your business details once to fill this in automatically next time

Billed by

Signature (optional)

A visual signature image only — not a legal e-signature. For GST e-invoicing, check whether the IRN system applies to your turnover.

Billed to

Line items
DescriptionQtyUnit priceAmount
₹25,000.00

Preview

Invoice

Invoice date: 2026-10-15

Billed by

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Billed to

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DescriptionQtyRateAmount
Website design and development, 5 pages1₹25,000.00₹25,000.00
Subtotal₹25,000.00
Total₹25,000.00

Amount in words: Rupees Twenty Five Thousand Only

Notes

Payment due within 15 days of the invoice date. Please pay by bank transfer or the UPI QR above.

What a freelancer invoice should show

  • Your name and address, and your client's name and address.
  • An invoice number and the date. Keep the numbers in a running series, so no two invoices share one.
  • What you did, in a line or two, with the quantity and rate or the fixed fee.
  • The amount due and the payment terms, for example "due in 15 days".
  • How to pay: bank details, and a UPI QR if you want to be paid faster.
  • If you are GST-registered, also your GSTIN, the SAC code, the GST rate and the tax amount.

With GST or without

You can charge GST only if you are registered. An unregistered freelancer sends a plain invoice, and that is legal. Registration becomes compulsory when your turnover from services crosses ₹20 lakh in a year, or ₹10 lakh in the special category states. You can also register voluntarily below the limit.

Once registered, your invoices become tax invoices. Use the GST invoice toggle: it adds your GSTIN, the SAC code for each line and the CGST and SGST or IGST split. The tool picks CGST and SGST or IGST from the state in each GSTIN.

TDS: why the client may pay you less than the invoice

A business client paying you for professional or technical work may deduct TDS before paying you. For professional fees the rate is 10% once the payments to you pass ₹50,000 in the year. From FY 2026-27 this sits under Section 393(1) of the Income-tax Act, 2025, which replaced Section 194J.

Your invoice should show the full fee. The client pays you the fee minus TDS and deposits the TDS against your PAN. You then claim it as credit in your income-tax return, where it shows in your AIS and Form 26AS. If your invoice shows GST separately, TDS is normally worked out on the fee before GST.

Tax treatment last checked 2026-10. This page is general information, not tax advice. Rules and rates change, so confirm yours against the current notification or with a CA before you file.

Frequently asked questions

Can a freelancer send an invoice without a GST number?

Yes. If you are not registered for GST, send a plain invoice with no GSTIN and no tax line. You may not charge GST at all until you are registered. Registration is compulsory once your services turnover passes ₹20 lakh a year (₹10 lakh in special category states).

What SAC code should a freelancer use on the invoice?

Only registered freelancers need one. It depends on the service. IT design and development, for example, falls under SAC 998314. Look yours up in the HSN/SAC finder and use the heading that matches your work.

Should the invoice show the TDS the client will deduct?

Show the full fee on the invoice. The client works out and deducts TDS when paying. You can add a line in the notes such as "TDS to be deducted as applicable". The deducted amount then appears as credit in your Form 26AS and AIS.

Related tools

Other invoice formats