You have just finished packing a ₹6.5 lakh consignment for a dealer in Jaipur. Your billing team has created the invoice in your system. The goods are ready. The transporter is at your gate.
And now someone says — "Did you generate the e-invoice?"
Panic. Your accounts person opens three browser tabs simultaneously. Searches for "e-invoice portal." Logs into what looks like the right portal. Stares at a form with twenty-five fields. Wonders which GSTIN goes where. Makes a mistake. Gets an error. Tries again.
Meanwhile, your transporter is still at the gate.
If this scenario feels real to you — or if you are about to generate your first e-invoice and want to do it correctly the first time — this guide is exactly what you need.
Generating an e-invoice on the GST portal is not complicated once you understand the portal's structure, what each field requires, and exactly where to click. This comprehensive, step-by-step guide walks you through the entire e-invoice generation process on India's Invoice Registration Portal — from the moment you open the browser to the moment your transporter drives away with a valid IRN-stamped invoice and e-way bill in hand.
We will also show you how ERP Group's accounting software makes this entire process happen automatically — so your team never has to manually navigate the IRP portal again.
Which Portal Do You Use to Generate E-Invoices in India?
The E-Invoice Portal is Not the Regular GST Portal
This is the most common confusion among businesses new to e-invoicing. The regular GST portal at www.gst.gov.in is where you file GSTR-1, GSTR-3B, and other returns. E-invoice generation happens on a separate portal called the Invoice Registration Portal (IRP).
India's Official Invoice Registration Portals
The government has designated multiple IRPs to handle e-invoice registration — providing redundancy so that downtime on one portal does not stop business operations. Here are the active IRPs in 2026:
IRP 1 — NIC (National Informatics Centre)
Portal URL: einvoice1.gst.gov.in The original and most widely used IRP — operated by NIC on behalf of the government. This is the portal we will use throughout this guide.
IRP 2 — Cleartax
Portal URL: einvoice2.gst.gov.in Operated by Cleartax — a well-known Indian tax technology company. Identical functionality to IRP 1.
IRP 3 — IRIS Business Services
Portal URL: einvoice3.gst.gov.in Operated by IRIS — another government-designated e-invoice service provider.
IRP 4 — Cygnet Infotech
Portal URL: einvoice4.gst.gov.in Operated by Cygnet. Provides identical e-invoice registration functionality.
IRP 5 — Masters India
Portal URL: einvoice5.gst.gov.in Operated by Masters India. All five IRPs are interconnected — an IRN generated on any one IRP is valid across the entire GST system.
Which IRP Should You Use?
For manual portal generation, use einvoice1.gst.gov.in (NIC) as your primary portal — it handles the highest volume and has the most mature interface. If NIC is slow or experiencing downtime near month-end, switch to any of the alternate IRPs. All five produce legally identical e-invoices with the same IRN validity.
Pre-Requisites Before You Start E-Invoice Generation
Check 1 — Confirm Your E-Invoicing Applicability
Before accessing the IRP portal, confirm that e-invoicing applies to your business. E-invoicing is mandatory for all GST-registered businesses with annual aggregate turnover above ₹5 crore in any preceding financial year. Your aggregate turnover includes all GSTINs under the same PAN.
If you are unsure whether your business has crossed the threshold, log into the regular GST portal at gst.gov.in → Services → User Services → View/Download Certificates — your aggregate turnover category is displayed here.
Check 2 — Confirm the Transaction Requires E-Invoicing
Not every invoice requires e-invoicing even for eligible businesses. E-invoicing is required for B2B invoices to registered buyers, export invoices, SEZ supply invoices, and credit notes and debit notes against e-invoiced supplies. E-invoicing is not required for B2C invoices to unregistered customers, bill of supply, delivery challans, and import purchase invoices.
Check 3 — Gather All Invoice Data Before Starting
The IRP portal does not auto-save partially filled forms — if you leave the page or the session times out, all entered data is lost. Before opening the portal, have the following information ready and verified:
Your supplier GSTIN (15-digit), buyer's verified GSTIN (15-digit), invoice number and date, HSN codes for all products, UQC (Unit Quantity Code) for each product's unit of measurement, quantity and unit price for each line item, taxable values and tax amounts, and if generating e-way bill simultaneously — transporter GSTIN or transporter ID and vehicle number.
Check 4 — Verify the Buyer's GSTIN Before Starting
This is non-negotiable. Before starting the IRP form, verify your buyer's GSTIN at search.gst.gov.in. Enter the GSTIN and confirm the business name matches your customer and the registration status shows as Active. An incorrect or inactive GSTIN causes IRP validation failure — wasting all the time you spent filling the form.
Check 5 — Have Your GST Portal Login Ready
The IRP uses the same login credentials as the regular GST portal — your GSTIN and password, with OTP verification to your registered mobile number. Ensure you have access to your registered mobile number before starting.
One-Time IRP Registration — If You Are a First-Time User
Is One-Time Registration Required?
If you have never generated an e-invoice on the IRP before, you need to complete a one-time registration on the IRP portal before you can generate invoices. This is separate from your GST registration and takes approximately 5 minutes.
Step-by-Step IRP First-Time Registration
Step 1 — Go to the IRP Portal
Open your browser and go to einvoice1.gst.gov.in. On the home page, click Sign Up or Registration — typically visible in the top right corner or in the navigation menu.
Step 2 — Enter Your GSTIN
On the registration page, enter your 15-digit GSTIN in the designated field. Click Proceed.
The portal automatically fetches your basic details from the GSTN database — your legal business name, trade name if different, and registered address. Verify these details are correct.
Step 3 — Verify Your Mobile and Email
The portal sends an OTP to your GSTN-registered mobile number. Enter this OTP to verify your mobile number. If your registered email address in the GSTN database is different from your preferred email, you can update your contact details at this stage.
Step 4 — Set Your IRP Login Password
Create a new password for your IRP login. This password is specific to the IRP and is separate from your GST portal password. Choose a strong password — minimum 8 characters with uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and special characters. Confirm the password and click Submit.
Step 5 — Registration Confirmation
The IRP displays a registration confirmation. Your GSTIN is now registered on the IRP and you can log in to generate e-invoices immediately. Note your IRP login credentials — GSTIN and the password you just set.
Complete Step-by-Step Guide to Generating E-Invoice on GST Portal
Step 1 — Log Into the IRP Portal
Open your browser and go to einvoice1.gst.gov.in. On the home page, click Login in the top navigation. Enter your GSTIN in the Username field and your IRP password in the Password field. Enter the CAPTCHA text shown on screen. Click Login.
OTP Verification After Login
After entering your credentials, the portal sends an OTP to your registered mobile number. Check your phone, enter the 6-digit OTP in the verification field, and click Verify OTP. You are now logged into the IRP dashboard.
What the IRP Dashboard Shows
The IRP dashboard displays your recent e-invoice activity — total invoices generated, IRN count, recent registrations, and quick action buttons. The most important navigation items for routine use are E-Invoice in the left sidebar menu (for generating and managing invoices) and E-Way Bill for e-way bill management.
Step 2 — Navigate to E-Invoice Generation
From the left sidebar menu or the top navigation, click on E-Invoice. A dropdown menu appears with the following options — Generate New (create a new single e-invoice), Bulk Generation (generate multiple e-invoices via file upload), IRN Details (search for existing IRN details), and Cancel IRN (cancel an existing e-invoice within the 24-hour window).
Click Generate New to start the single e-invoice generation process.
Step 3 — Fill in the Supplier Details Section
The e-invoice generation form opens with multiple sections. The first section — Supplier Details — is partially pre-filled from your GSTIN profile.
Fields in Supplier Details
GSTIN of Supplier — Pre-filled with your logged-in GSTIN. Verify it is the correct GSTIN if you manage multiple registrations.
Legal Name of Supplier — Auto-fetched from GSTN database. Verify this matches your invoice exactly.
Trade Name — If different from legal name, enter your trade name here. Optional but recommended for clarity.
Address Line 1 — Your registered address first line. Auto-fetched but can be modified if dispatch is from a different location.
Address Line 2 — Second line of address. Optional.
Location/City — City or area name.
PIN Code — Your 6-digit PIN code. Mandatory.
State Code — Auto-populated from your GSTIN. Do not change this.
Phone Number — Your business contact number. Optional.
Email ID — Your business email. Optional.
Click Save & Next after completing this section.
Step 4 — Fill in the Buyer Details Section
The Buyer Details section requires your customer's information. This is the most important section — errors here are the primary cause of IRP validation failures.
Fields in Buyer Details
GSTIN of Buyer — Enter your customer's 15-digit GSTIN exactly. The portal automatically fetches the buyer's registered name and address when you enter a valid GSTIN. If the fetched name does not match your customer's actual business name — stop. Investigate the GSTIN discrepancy before proceeding. Do not override the fetched name with your customer's name if the GSTINs do not match.
Legal Name — Auto-fetched from GSTN database when GSTIN is entered. Do not modify.
Trade Name — Auto-fetched if registered. Optional.
Address Line 1 — Auto-fetched. This is your customer's registered address. If goods are being delivered to a different address, note that the registered address goes here and the actual delivery address goes in the Ship To section.
Address Line 2 — Auto-fetched if available.
Location/City — Auto-fetched.
PIN Code — Auto-fetched. Verify it is correct.
State Code — Auto-fetched from GSTIN. This state code is critical — it determines whether IGST or CGST/SGST applies. If buyer's state code differs from your state code — IGST applies. If same state code — CGST/SGST applies.
Place of Supply — Select the state where the supply is made. For most goods transactions, this is the delivery destination state. This field determines tax jurisdiction.
Buyer Type Selection
Select the buyer type from the dropdown — B2B for domestic registered buyers, SEZ for supplies to Special Economic Zone units, and EXP for exports. Selecting the wrong buyer type changes the tax treatment and supply type — always verify before proceeding.
Click Save & Next.
Step 5 — Fill in the Dispatch From and Ship To Sections (If Different From Registered Addresses)
Dispatch From Section
If the goods are being dispatched from a location different from your registered GSTIN address — such as a warehouse, godown, or factory in a different location — enter the actual dispatch address here. This information appears on the e-way bill and should reflect the actual physical origin of the goods movement.
If goods are dispatched from your registered address, this section mirrors your supplier details and no changes are needed.
Ship To Section
If the delivery address is different from your buyer's registered GSTIN address — for example, if the buyer's GSTIN is registered in Mumbai but goods are to be delivered to their Pune warehouse — enter the actual delivery address here.
For businesses making deliveries to the buyer's registered address, this section mirrors the buyer details and no changes are needed.
Step 6 — Enter Invoice Details (Document Details Section)
Fields in Document Details
Document Type — Select from the dropdown: INV for Tax Invoice, CRN for Credit Note, DBN for Debit Note. Most e-invoices are INV type.
Document Number — Enter your invoice number exactly as it appears on your invoice, including any prefix, suffix, or series identifier. The document number combined with your GSTIN and financial year must be unique — no two invoices can share the same number under your GSTIN in one financial year.
Document Date — Enter the invoice date in DD/MM/YYYY format. The date cannot be a future date — the IRP does not accept invoices dated beyond today. The date should be within the current financial year.
Original Invoice Number — Only applicable for Credit Notes and Debit Notes. Enter the original invoice number that this CN or DN references.
Original Invoice Date — The date of the original invoice being referenced. Only for CRN and DBN.
Supply Type Code — Select the applicable supply type from the dropdown:
- B2B — Regular B2B supply to domestic registered buyer
- EXPWOP — Export without payment of IGST (with Letter of Undertaking)
- EXPWP — Export with payment of IGST
- SEZWOP — Supply to SEZ without payment of IGST
- SEZWP — Supply to SEZ with payment of IGST
- DEXP — Deemed export
For most standard B2B domestic transactions, select B2B.
Click Save & Next.
Step 7 — Add Item Details (Line Items Section)
This section is where you add the details of each product or service being invoiced. For invoices with multiple line items, you add each item separately.
Click "Add Item" to Start
Click the Add Item button to open the line item entry form. Fill in the following fields for each line item:
Sl No (Serial Number) — The line item number (1, 2, 3, etc.). Auto-populated but verify for multiple items.
Product/Service Description — A meaningful description of the goods or services. This should be consistent with the description associated with the HSN code selected.
Is Service — Toggle Yes or No. Select Yes for services (SAC codes), No for goods (HSN codes).
HSN/SAC Code — Enter the correct HSN code for goods or SAC code for services. The IRP validates this against the GSTN master — an invalid code causes validation failure. For businesses with turnover between ₹1.5 crore and ₹5 crore — use 4-digit HSN codes. For above ₹5 crore — use 6-digit codes.
Quantity — The quantity of goods or units of service supplied. Must be a positive number.
Unit of Measurement (UQC) — Select from the dropdown list of approved Unit Quantity Codes. Common UQC codes include NOS (Numbers/Pieces), KGS (Kilograms), MTR (Metres), LTR (Litres), SET (Sets), BOX (Boxes), PCS (Pieces — same as NOS in practice). Do not type free text — always select from the dropdown. Free text UQC causes validation failure.
Unit Price — The price per unit of goods or services, excluding GST. Must be a positive number.
Total Amount — Auto-calculated as Quantity multiplied by Unit Price. Verify this figure.
Discount — If a discount applies, enter the discount amount in rupees (not percentage). The taxable value is calculated as Total Amount minus Discount.
Taxable Value — Auto-calculated as Total Amount minus Discount. Verify this figure.
GST Rate — Select the applicable GST rate from the dropdown — 0, 0.1, 0.25, 1, 1.5, 3, 5, 12, 18, or 28 percent. The rate must match the HSN code's applicable GST rate.
IGST Amount — Auto-calculated for interstate supplies. Verify.
CGST Amount — Auto-calculated for intrastate supplies. Verify.
SGST Amount — Auto-calculated for intrastate supplies. Verify.
Cess Rate and Amount — Applicable for specific goods subject to compensation cess — tobacco, automobiles, aerated drinks. Leave at 0 for standard goods.
Total Item Value — Auto-calculated as Taxable Value plus applicable GST amounts.
Click Add to save the line item. Repeat the process for each additional product or service line item in the invoice.
Reviewing Line Items Before Proceeding
After adding all line items, review the line items list — checking that every item has the correct HSN code, quantity, taxable value, GST rate, and tax amounts. Any error at line item level will cause either IRP validation failure or an incorrect e-invoice that needs to be cancelled and re-registered.
Step 8 — Review the Invoice Value Summary
After adding all line items, the portal automatically calculates and displays the invoice value summary — showing total taxable value, total IGST, total CGST, total SGST, total cess, round-off amount (optional), and total invoice value.
Verify the Summary Against Your Original Invoice
Cross-check every figure in the summary against your original invoice calculations. The total taxable value should match the sum of all line item taxable values. Total tax amounts should match the sum of all line item tax amounts. Total invoice value should be taxable value plus total tax amount plus or minus round-off.
If any figure differs from your original invoice — identify the discrepancy in the line items and correct it before proceeding. Do not proceed if figures do not match.
Step 9 — Add E-Way Bill Details (Optional but Recommended)
If the invoice involves movement of goods valued above ₹50,000 — which is most B2B goods invoices — you can generate the e-way bill simultaneously with the e-invoice in this step, saving a separate visit to the e-way bill portal.
Fields in E-Way Bill Details
Transport Mode — Select Road, Rail, Air, or Ship depending on the transport mode.
Distance (in km) — The distance in kilometres between the dispatch location and the delivery destination. This determines the e-way bill validity period.
Transporter GSTIN or ID — If you have engaged a registered transporter, enter their GSTIN. If you are self-transporting using your own vehicle, leave blank and enter the vehicle number directly.
Transporter Name — Name of the transport company.
Transport Document Number — Lorry receipt number, railway receipt number, airway bill number, or bill of lading number — depending on transport mode.
Vehicle Number — For road transport — the vehicle registration number in standard format (for example MH12AB1234).
If You Are Not Generating E-Way Bill Now
If the e-way bill will be generated separately — either because goods movement details are not yet confirmed or because the consignment is being collected by the buyer — leave all e-way bill fields blank. You can generate the e-way bill separately using the IRP or the NIC e-way bill portal after the IRN is generated.
Step 10 — Preview the Complete E-Invoice
Before submitting, click Preview to review the complete e-invoice as it will be registered with the IRP. The preview shows all filled information in invoice format — supplier and buyer details, line items, value summary, and the supply type.
Final Checklist Before Submission
Verify the supplier GSTIN is your correct GSTIN. Verify the buyer GSTIN matches exactly. Verify all line item HSN codes are correct. Verify quantities and unit prices are accurate. Verify the total invoice value matches your original invoice. Verify the supply type (B2B, EXPWOP, etc.) is correctly selected. Verify the place of supply state code is correct.
If everything is correct — proceed to submission. If any error is found — go back to the relevant section, correct it, and regenerate the preview.
Step 11 — Submit the E-Invoice for IRN Generation
Click Submit to send the invoice data to the IRP for IRN generation. The portal displays a confirmation dialogue — read the declaration and click Proceed or Submit to confirm.
What Happens During IRP Processing
The IRP performs comprehensive validation checks — verifying GSTIN validity for both supplier and buyer, confirming HSN code validity and correct GST rate mapping, checking mathematical accuracy of all tax calculations, verifying invoice number uniqueness for your GSTIN and financial year, and confirming all mandatory fields are correctly populated.
If all validations pass — typically within 1-5 seconds — the IRP generates the unique IRN, digitally signs the invoice JSON, embeds the QR code, and returns the registered e-invoice data.
What if Validation Fails?
If any validation fails, the portal displays specific error codes and messages explaining exactly which field failed and why. Do not panic — read each error message carefully, correct the specified field, and resubmit. The most common validation failures and their solutions are covered in detail in the error section below.
Step 12 — Receive and Save the IRN and QR Code
After successful submission, the IRP displays the e-invoice registration confirmation with the following critical information:
Your E-Invoice Registration Details
IRN (Invoice Reference Number) — The unique 64-character alphanumeric code assigned by the IRP. This is the government's identifier for your invoice — note it immediately. This number cannot be recovered if you close the page without saving it.
Acknowledgement Number — A separate reference number for the IRP registration transaction.
Acknowledgement Date and Time — The exact date and time of IRN generation — important for the 24-hour cancellation window calculation.
QR Code — The digitally signed QR code image that must appear on the printed or PDF invoice. The QR code encodes key invoice parameters and can be verified using the government's e-invoice verification app.
Signed Invoice JSON — The digitally signed invoice data in JSON format — the official record of the registered e-invoice.
What to Do With This Information
Download the signed JSON file and save it to your e-invoice records folder. Note the IRN in your accounting records against this invoice. Download or copy the QR code image.
If you requested simultaneous e-way bill generation and it was successful — the e-way bill number is also displayed here. Note it and communicate it to your transporter.
Step 13 — Print or Download the Complete E-Invoice
Click the Print or Download button on the confirmation page to generate the complete e-invoice PDF. This PDF includes all invoice details, the IRN prominently displayed, and the QR code embedded in the prescribed position.
What the Printed E-Invoice Must Show
The legally valid e-invoice document must display the IRN, the QR code (minimum size as specified by GSTN guidelines), all standard invoice fields, and the phrase "IRN:" followed by the 64-character IRN number. Invoices without these elements are not compliant even if the IRN exists in the GSTN system.
Step 14 — Send the E-Invoice to Your Buyer
Send the complete e-invoice — with IRN and QR code — to your customer via email, WhatsApp, or physical print. For goods dispatches, the driver must carry a copy of the e-invoice (and e-way bill if applicable) during transport.
After Sending the E-Invoice
Your buyer can verify the authenticity of the e-invoice by scanning the QR code with the GSTN e-invoice verification app or by entering the IRN at the IRP portal's IRN verification section. The invoice data is also automatically reflected in both your GSTR-1 outward supply data and your buyer's GSTR-2B — eliminating the need for you to separately report this invoice when filing GSTR-1.
👉 For understanding how e-invoiced transactions appear in GSTR-1 and how to handle filing errors, read our complete guide on GSTR-1 filing errors and how to fix them.
How to Generate E-Invoice Using the IRP Offline Tool
When to Use the Offline Tool
The offline tool is useful when you need to generate multiple e-invoices at once — such as a batch of end-of-day invoices — without entering each one individually through the web form. It is also useful when internet connectivity is unreliable — you can prepare all invoice data offline and upload when connectivity is available.
Step 1 — Download the IRP Offline Tool
Log into the IRP portal and navigate to Help → Utilities → e-Invoice Offline Tool. Download the latest version of the Excel-based offline tool. Extract the downloaded ZIP file to a convenient location on your computer.
Step 2 — Prepare Invoice Data in the Tool
Open the Excel file from the extracted folder. The tool presents multiple sheets — a Master sheet for setup data and an Invoice Data sheet for entering invoice details. Each row in the Invoice Data sheet represents one invoice.
Fill in all required columns for each invoice — supplier details (pre-configured once), buyer GSTIN, invoice number, invoice date, supply type, line item details, and e-way bill details if required.
Step 3 — Validate Data in the Tool
The offline tool has built-in validation — click Validate within the Excel tool to check each invoice's data for common errors. The tool flags rows with missing mandatory fields, invalid formats, or obvious data issues. Correct all flagged errors before proceeding.
Step 4 — Generate the JSON File
After validation, click Generate JSON in the Excel tool. The tool creates a JSON file containing all validated invoice data in the IRP's required format. Save this JSON file.
Step 5 — Upload to IRP Portal
Log into the IRP portal and navigate to E-Invoice → Bulk Upload. Select the JSON file you generated and click Upload. The portal processes each invoice — validating and registering each one. The processing time depends on the number of invoices in the batch.
Step 6 — Download Results and Update Records
After processing, download the results file — which shows the IRN generated for each successfully registered invoice and error details for any failed invoices. Update your accounting records with all returned IRN numbers. For failed invoices, identify and correct the errors, then resubmit.
How to Check E-Invoice Status and Retrieve Existing IRN
When You Need to Retrieve an IRN
Sometimes you need to retrieve an existing IRN — if the portal returned an IRN but you closed the page before saving it, if you need to verify whether a specific invoice was successfully registered, or if a buyer needs to verify the IRN for a past invoice.
Step 1 — Navigate to IRN Details
Log into the IRP portal and click E-Invoice → IRN Details from the navigation menu.
Step 2 — Enter Search Parameters
You can search for an existing IRN using one of two methods. Method A — enter your GSTIN, the financial year, the document type (INV/CRN/DBN), and the exact invoice number. The portal retrieves the corresponding IRN if the invoice was previously registered. Method B — enter the IRN directly if you have a partial record and need to retrieve the full registered e-invoice details.
Step 3 — Download the Retrieved E-Invoice
The portal displays the registered e-invoice details — including the IRN, acknowledgement number, and a download option for the signed JSON. Download the complete signed e-invoice for your records.
How to Cancel an E-Invoice on the GST Portal
The 24-Hour Cancellation Rule
An e-invoice can only be cancelled on the IRP within 24 hours of the IRN generation time. After this window closes, IRN cancellation on the IRP is no longer possible — you must issue a credit note instead.
When Can You Cancel an E-Invoice?
You can cancel an e-invoice if the transaction was cancelled or the goods were not dispatched, if a data entry error was made that requires a completely new invoice, if a duplicate invoice was accidentally registered, or if the customer rejected the supply before dispatch. You cannot cancel an e-invoice if an e-way bill has already been generated and goods are in transit — the e-way bill must be cancelled first.
Step-by-Step E-Invoice Cancellation on Portal
Step 1 — Navigate to Cancel IRN
Log into the IRP portal. Click E-Invoice → Cancel IRN from the navigation menu.
Step 2 — Enter the IRN to Cancel
Enter the 64-character IRN of the e-invoice you want to cancel. Click Get Details. The portal displays the registered invoice details — verify this is the correct invoice you intend to cancel.
Step 3 — Select Cancellation Reason
Select the reason for cancellation from the dropdown:
- 1 — Duplicate (same invoice was registered twice)
- 2 — Data Entry Mistake (incorrect data was entered)
- 3 — Order Cancelled (buyer cancelled the order)
- 4 — Other (any other reason — provide explanation in the remarks field)
Step 4 — Confirm Cancellation
Enter the cancellation reason code and any remarks. Check the confirmation checkbox. Click Cancel IRN. The portal cancels the IRN and updates the GSTN system — removing the invoice from your GSTR-1 auto-population and from the buyer's GSTR-2B.
Step 5 — Record the Cancellation
The portal confirms successful cancellation with the cancellation acknowledgement. Save this confirmation. Update your invoice register to mark the invoice as cancelled. If goods movement was initiated — ensure the corresponding e-way bill is also cancelled.
After the 24-Hour Window — Using Credit Notes Instead
If the cancellation window has passed and the invoice needs to be effectively reversed, issue a credit note for the full invoice value. The credit note must also be registered as an e-invoice on the IRP — with document type CRN, the original invoice number referenced, and the correct credit values entered. This e-invoiced credit note reverses the supply in the GST system without cancelling the original IRN.
Common E-Invoice Portal Errors and How to Solve Them
Error 2150 — Invalid Recipient GSTIN
What Causes This
The buyer's GSTIN entered is invalid — either a formatting error, an inactive registration, or a suspended GSTIN.
Solution
Verify the GSTIN at search.gst.gov.in. Confirm active status. If the GSTIN is genuinely inactive, contact your buyer to obtain their current active GSTIN before proceeding.
Error 2230 — Duplicate IRN
What Causes This
An invoice with the same document number has already been registered for your GSTIN in the current financial year.
Solution
Use the IRN Details search to retrieve the existing IRN for this invoice number. If the previously registered invoice is correct — use the existing IRN. If it contains errors — cancel it within 24 hours and re-register with a new invoice number.
Error 2271 — Tax Amount Mismatch
What Causes This
The CGST, SGST, or IGST amounts entered do not match the calculated values based on taxable value and GST rate.
Solution
Recalculate all tax amounts — taxable value multiplied by (GST rate divided by 100). For 18% GST on ₹10,000 taxable value — CGST = ₹900, SGST = ₹900. Correct and resubmit.
Error 2283 — Invalid HSN Code
What Causes This
The HSN code entered is not in the current GSTN HSN master or is at the wrong digit level for your turnover category.
Solution
Search for the correct HSN code on the CBIC website. Confirm the correct digit level requirement for your annual turnover. Update and resubmit.
Error 2246 — Future Invoice Date
What Causes This
The invoice date entered is after today's date. The IRP does not accept future-dated invoices.
Solution
Correct the invoice date to today or a past date. If you genuinely need a future-dated invoice, hold the registration until that date arrives.
Error 2275 — Invalid Unit Quantity Code
What Causes This
The unit of measurement entered is not from the IRP's approved UQC list — often caused by typing free text instead of selecting from the dropdown.
Solution
Select the correct UQC from the portal's dropdown list. Never type UQC codes manually — always use the dropdown selection.
Portal Session Timeout — All Data Lost
What Causes This
The IRP portal automatically logs out inactive sessions after approximately 20-30 minutes. If you are filling a complex multi-line invoice and pause for any reason, your session may time out and all entered data will be lost.
Prevention Strategy
Prepare all invoice data completely before opening the portal form. Work through the form without pausing for extended periods. For complex invoices with many line items — use the offline tool instead of the web form. ERP Group's accounting software eliminates session timeout risk entirely by handling IRP submission through API rather than portal interaction.
Why Manual Portal Generation Has Limitations for Growing Businesses
Time Cost of Manual Portal Generation
For businesses generating 20 invoices per day, manual portal generation means 20 separate portal sessions. At an average of 8-10 minutes per invoice for a practiced user — that is 160-200 minutes every day, or approximately 2.5-3 hours, spent solely on e-invoice portal work.
For businesses generating 100 or more B2B invoices daily — manual portal generation is operationally impossible.
Error Risk Increases With Volume
Every manual portal session is an opportunity for data entry error — wrong HSN code, transposed GSTIN digit, incorrect tax amount, missed line item. As invoice volume grows, so does the probability of errors that require time-consuming IRN cancellations or credit note reversals.
No Integration With Your Accounting Records
Manual portal generation creates a disconnect between your IRP records and your accounting software. IRN numbers must be manually noted and entered back into your accounting system. GSTR-1 auto-population benefits are lost if your accounting system does not have the IRN against each invoice. This manual bridge between IRP and accounting creates its own error opportunities.
Portal Dependency Creates Operational Risk
Your ability to dispatch goods becomes dependent on IRP portal availability. Portal downtime — which occurs near month-end when volumes are highest — can halt your operations if you have no alternative to manual portal generation.
How ERP Group Eliminates Manual Portal Access for E-Invoicing
The ERP Group E-Invoicing Architecture
ERP Group's accounting software has certified, direct API integration with all five government-designated IRPs. When you create a B2B invoice in ERP Group for a registered buyer, the entire IRP portal process described in this guide happens automatically — in the background, within seconds, without any portal access from your team.
What Happens When You Create an Invoice in ERP Group
You enter customer details, line items, quantities, and rates in ERP Group exactly as you always have. The software detects that the customer has an active GSTIN and that e-invoicing applies. It automatically validates the GSTIN, generates the correct JSON payload with all mandatory IRP fields correctly mapped, submits to the IRP through certified API, receives the IRN and QR code, updates the invoice with these details, and prepares the complete e-invoice for delivery — all within 3-5 seconds of invoice creation.
You never see the IRP portal. Your team never navigates portal forms. No data is re-entered. No session times out.
Multi-IRP Failover
ERP Group monitors all five IRP portals in real time. If the primary IRP is slow or unavailable, the software automatically routes to an alternate IRP — ensuring your e-invoices generate without interruption regardless of individual portal downtime.
Automatic E-Way Bill Generation
For qualifying goods invoices — value above ₹50,000 — ERP Group automatically generates the e-way bill in the same API transaction as the e-invoice. Both IRN and e-way bill number are returned and stored against the invoice simultaneously. Your warehouse management system updates the dispatch record automatically — with no separate e-way bill portal visit required.
Instant Buyer Delivery
The completed e-invoice — with IRN and QR code — is instantly sent to your buyer via email and WhatsApp directly from ERP Group. Buyers receive their e-invoice within seconds of generation without any manual forwarding.
Automatic GSTR-1 Population
Every e-invoice generated through ERP Group automatically populates your GSTR-1 return — so when filing day arrives, your GST return data is already complete for all e-invoiced transactions.
👉 For businesses new to GSTR-1 filing, read our complete guide on how to file GSTR-1 online step by step for beginners.
Complete Business Integration
ERP Group's e-invoicing module connects natively with every part of your business. Retail counter sales through POS software automatically identify B2B versus B2C customers — routing only registered buyer invoices to e-invoicing. Goods dispatches through warehouse management trigger automatic e-invoice and e-way bill generation simultaneously. Service engagements through CRM software generate correctly place-of-supply-determined service e-invoices automatically. Employee-related compliance through HR & Payroll software is handled separately — without affecting invoice data quality.
Time Comparison — Manual Portal vs ERP Group
| E-Invoicing Task | Manual Portal | ERP Group |
|---|---|---|
| Portal login and navigation | 3-5 minutes per invoice | 0 minutes |
| Data entry on portal form | 5-8 minutes per invoice | 0 minutes |
| Validation and error correction | 2-10 minutes per error | 0 minutes |
| IRN noting and recording | 2-3 minutes per invoice | 0 minutes (automatic) |
| QR code download and attach | 2-3 minutes per invoice | 0 minutes (automatic) |
| Invoice delivery to buyer | 3-5 minutes per invoice | 0 minutes (automatic) |
| Total per invoice | 17-34 minutes | Under 5 seconds |
| For 50 invoices/day | 14-28 hours | Under 5 minutes |
Conclusion — Know the Portal, Then Automate It
Understanding how to generate e-invoices on the GST portal manually — the 14-step process described in this guide — is knowledge every business owner and accounts team member above the ₹5 crore threshold should have. Portal knowledge is your backup when software issues arise, your foundation for understanding what automation is replacing, and your reference for the rare scenarios that require manual portal access.
But running your daily operations through manual portal generation is not a sustainable approach for any business generating more than a handful of B2B invoices per day. The time cost, error risk, operational dependency on portal availability, and disconnection from your accounting records make manual portal e-invoicing an obstacle to efficient operations — not an enabling compliance process.
ERP Group's accounting software — with certified API integration across all five IRPs, automatic e-way bill generation, instant buyer delivery, and native integration with warehouse management, POS, HR & Payroll, and CRM software — transforms e-invoicing from a manual compliance burden into an automatic background process that takes under 5 seconds per invoice.
Know the portal. Then let ERP Group handle it automatically — so your truck leaves on time, every time.
Join 5,000+ Indian businesses generating e-invoices automatically with ERP Group.
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