GST E-WAY Bills

The GST E-Way Bill is an electronically generated document required for the movement of goods worth more than ₹50,000 (in most cases) in India from one place to another, whether it’s for supply, reasons other than supply, inward supply from an unregistered person, etc.

Key features of the GST E-Way Bill:

1. Electronic Form: The E-Way Bill is generated electronically on the GST portal or through SMS. It contains details such as the type of goods, their value, the place of origin, destination, vehicle details, and transporter details.

2. Purpose: The primary purpose of the E-Way Bill is to ensure that the movement of goods is accompanied by proper documentation to prevent tax evasion and monitor the transportation of goods.

3. Validity: The validity of an E-Way Bill depends on the distance to be traveled by the goods. For every 100 kilometers or part thereof, the E-Way Bill is valid for one day for most goods. However, for over-dimensional cargo, the validity is higher.

4. Requirement: The E-Way Bill is required to be carried by the person in charge of the conveyance transporting the goods. It should be made available to the GST officer if asked for during transit.

5. Exemptions: There are certain exemptions to the E-Way Bill requirement, such as goods transported by non-motorized conveyance, certain specified goods, transit cargo from/to Nepal and Bhutan, etc.

The E-Way Bill system was introduced under the GST regime to standardize and streamline the process of goods transportation across states. It’s aimed at ensuring better tax compliance, reducing tax evasion, and bringing uniformity in the documentation required for the movement of goods. Failure to produce a valid E-Way Bill during transportation could result in penalties and the seizure of goods.