HSN Code on Invoices Mandatory from 1st April,2021

Yarab A | Mar-16-2021

In the month of October,2020, a notification mandating the HSN code on invoices was issued by the GST authorities. According to this new mandate, businesses must mention the harmonised system of nomenclature (HSN) code on tax invoice from 1^st April,2021. While mandating the HSN code, there are specific guidelines issued in terms of no. of digits of HSN code to be captured on invoices.

HSN code on invoices from 1^st April

Basis on the aggregate turnover in the previous financial year, the larger businesses are required to capture the 6-digit HSN code and 4 digits for the smaller businesses.

Businesses whose aggregate Turnover in the preceding financial year is more than 5 crores are required to mention the HSN code at a 6-digit level. Businesses with aggregate turnover of up to 5 crores are required to capture 4-digit HSN code.

Aggregate Turnover in the preceding Financial Year	Number of Digits of HSN Code
Up to 5 crores	4 digits
Exceeding 5 Crores	6 Digits

Types of invoices on which HSN code is mandatory

Now, the next question is that, should it be mentioned on all the types of invoices or only on B2B invoices? To answer, there are different guidelines for larger and small businesses having turnover up to 5 crores.

Businesses with aggregate turnover exceeding 5 crores in the preceding financial year i.e. 2020-21, should mandatorily declare HSN code at 6 digits on all tax invoices including B2C supplies. Business aggregate Turnover up to 5 crores in 2020-21, are mandated to capture 4 digits HSN only on the B2B tax invoices. For B2C supplies, it is optional.

The below table summarises the mandatory and optional provisions of declaring HSN on different supplies.

Supplies	Exceeding 5 Crore	Up to 5 Crore
B2B supplies	Mandatory	Mandatory
B2C supplies	Mandatory	Optional

HSN Code in GSTR-1

Just like it is mandatory to mention HSN code at 6 and 4 digits on invoices, GST returns too needs to be reported with HSN code. Businesses with an aggregate turnover exceeding 5 crores in the preceding financial year, need to upload HSN summary with 6 digits HSN code in GSTR-1 starting from 1^st April,2020.

In the same way, businesses with an aggregate turnover up to 5 crores, need to upload HSN summary with 4 digits HSN code in GSTR-1 return. However, businesses can choose to mention HSN code at more digits optionally. Businesses up to 5 cores can mention HSN at 6 or 8 digits and businesses exceeding 5 crores, can optionally mention HSN at 8 digits.

If you are filing monthly GSTR-1, you need to report the HSN details in April month’s GSTR-1, to be filed in May,2021. In case of quarterly GSTR-1, you need to furnish the details at 4 digits in April to June’21 GSTR-1, to be filed in July,2021.

With this change, you need to report the HSN code at 6/4 digits mandatorily in HSN summary i.e., table 12 of GSTR-1. Also, the 'total value' in HSN summary is replaced with 'Rate of Tax' meaning you need to furnish HSN-wise rate-wise details now.

What should businesses do from 1^st April,2021?

1^st April,2021 being the date from which it is mandatory to mention the HSN code at 6/4 digits, once again the businesses need to carry out the activity of figuring out the right HSN code at required digits. Here are some of the key things that will help you meet this compliance requirement.

Take stock of the different nature of products/services you deal with. In most cases, though the products are of different varieties, they may fall under the same chapter and heading.
If you are a business required to declare 6 digits HSN code on invoices, look for a precise code for the last 2 digits of HSN.
Update your accounting/GST software with HSN code with request digits. This can be done well before 1^st April so that you are all set to issue the tax invoice that is compliant with the new requirement.

How to update HSN code in TallyPrime?

You can specify HSN code details and tax rates at different levels for the goods supplied by your business. This is the flexibility provided for ease of use to accommodate your business needs. You can specify HSN at a company level, stock group and stock item level. Also, one can specify it at the ledger level. Read 'Manage HSN Codes/SAC and Tax Rates' to know more.