Invoice registration Portal
Guide to Invoice Registration Portal
In this post, we’ll take a look at the Invoice Registration Portal (IRP) and its many functions in the e-invoicing process:
What is an Invoice Registration Portal (IRP)?
It is a portal that helps with the authentication of invoices by providing Invoice Reference Numbers (IRNs) and QR Codes to each invoice or CDN (Credit or Debit Note). As of now, there is only one Invoice Registration Portal (IRP India), run by the National Informatics Centre (NIC).
This IRP allows users to upload invoice details for the purpose of creating or approving an invoice. The new e-invoicing system will only accept invoices that have an approved invoice reference number (IRN).
You may access the NIC IRP portal by going to the URL www.ireps.gov.in.
Functions of Invoice Registration Portal
1. Generate IRN
If invoices are uploaded without IRN, the IRP generates IRN in the prescribed format based on the existing parameters.
2. Validate IRN
Where the taxpayer can generate the IRN after uploading invoices on their systems. Then IRP will validate it based on the prescribed parameters.
3. Check duplication or repetition
The IRP will check the IRN of the invoice and then compare it with the information stored in the Central Depository for any information duplication or repetition.
4. Digital Signature
IRP will digitally sign all the validated invoices using the private key of the IRP. This digitally signed JSON file is available to the supplier.
5. Generate QR code
Invoice Registration Portal generates both digital signature and QR code for each invoice uploaded. With the help of this QR code, you can quickly read or print the invoice as well as validate it.. Thus, it makes it useful for tax officers and others to verify details if there is no access to the internet.
The following are the details available in the QR code:
- GSTIN of supplier
- GSTIN of recipient
- Invoice number as given by the supplier
- Date of generation of invoice
- Invoice value (taxable value and gross tax)
- Number of line items
- HSN Code of the main item (the line item having the highest taxable value)
- Unique Invoice Reference Number (hash)
6. Send invoice via email
Invoice Registration Portal or IRP will send a validated invoice to the e-mail address of the seller for further reference.
7. Offline app
Invoice Registration Portal also provides an offline app to authenticate the QR code of an invoice and view its basic details. The complete invoice details are only available after connecting to the portal.
8. Integration with GST and E-Way Bill system
The uploaded invoice details in IRP are shared with the GST system for automatic updating of GSTR-1 (of the seller). It will also be shared with the e-Way Bill system for an easy and smooth process of creating an e-Way Bill.
E-Invoice Generation on IRP
GST taxpayers follow a prescribed E-invoicing format to help the system read the output generated by another system.
If invoices are submitted in a specific format, the procedure of filing returns will be automated. As a result, IRP will record the invoice data on a daily basis.
However, to upload invoice details to IRP, the invoice should be in a JSON file. It can be made using an offline tool or the ERP of the taxpayer. It must be integrated with the e-invoice system via API, either directly or through GSPs.
Modes of registering invoices with IRP
There are several options for registering the invoice on the IRP, including:
1. Web-based through Bulk Upload
The qualified taxpayer can enter invoice details using an excel-based offline tool, which converts the data to a JSON file. The same can be submitted onto the IRP’s e-invoice website for registration/validation purposes. After that, an IRN and a QR code will be produced.
2. API based
The API integration mode will let large taxpayers and accounting software suppliers to communicate with the Invoice Registration Portal using their own software.
In order to do so, they must register the server details of their own systems with the e-invoice system. Similar to the e-way bill system, the APIs allow the generation and validation of the IRN for invoices either individually or in bulk. An IT-enabled invoice generating system with a static IP address, a test system for the API interface, and a domain name with an SSL certificate are requirements for integration.
3. Mobile App based
IRP has suggested a mobile app on the play store or App store, which performs some of the duties of the IRP as discussed above. To produce the IRN, the user must enter the IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identification) numbers of the mobile devices into the electronic invoicing system.
4. GSP based
Taxpayers can also use GST Suvidha Provider (GSP) services, such as Clear, to assist them with their e-invoice compliances.
Clear’s e-Invoicing system provides many ways for taxpayers to produce e-invoices, such as smooth API connections, Excel mode, FTP, SFTP, or Tally connector. Many value additions are available to the user, including:
- The system generates 5,000 electronic invoices every minute.
- Integration with a high-fidelity solution that has a 99.99% uptime guarantee.
- 100+ data validations to provide a seamless and error-free e-invoicing experience.
- Auto-retry of failed EWBs (with distance error) to improve EWB generating success rate.
- Faster loading of ‘e-invoices’ and ‘e-way bills’ on the screen for up to 1 lakh documents.
- Reconciliation of e-way bill and GSTR-1 data, insightful reports, customised e-invoice print template, data preservation, and so on.
And with that, we end this post on the Invoice Registration Portal (IRP). If you have any questions, drop them in the comment section below.
