E-invoicing & E-way Bills Explained for SMEs
5 min read · 24 May 2026
Who needs e-invoicing, when it's mandatory, and how to generate compliant e-invoices and e-way bills in seconds.
What is e-invoicing?
E-invoicing means reporting your B2B invoices to the government's Invoice Registration Portal (IRP), which validates them and returns an Invoice Reference Number (IRN) and a signed QR code. The invoice format is standard so it can be read across the GST system automatically.
It doesn't mean generating invoices on a government website — you create invoices in your software, which reports them to the IRP behind the scenes.
When is it mandatory?
E-invoicing applies based on your aggregate annual turnover, and the threshold has steadily come down over time to cover smaller businesses. If your turnover crosses the current notified limit, e-invoicing is mandatory for your B2B invoices. It's worth confirming the latest threshold for the current financial year.
What is an e-way bill?
An e-way bill is an electronic document required for moving goods above a certain value. It captures the consignor, consignee, goods and transport details, and must accompany the shipment. E-invoicing and e-way bills work together — your software can generate both from the same invoice.
Generate both in seconds
Instead of juggling portals, software like Betterwork Books generates the e-invoice (with IRN and QR) and the e-way bill directly from your invoice, so compliance happens in the background while you run your business.
Put this into practice with Betterwork Books
All-in-one GST billing, accounting & invoicing software. Start free with 50 invoices — no card needed.
Explore Betterwork BooksFAQs
Is e-invoicing the same as a normal GST invoice?
No — an e-invoice is a regular invoice that's additionally reported to the IRP and stamped with an IRN and QR code. The underlying invoice content is the same.
Do I need an e-way bill for every shipment?
Only for movement of goods above the notified value threshold. Your software can decide and generate it automatically when required.
