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CBEC-20/16/38/2020 -GST
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Revenue
Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs
GST Policy Wing
New Delhi, dated the 21st June, 2021
Circular no. 156/12/2021 - GST: Clarification in respect of applicability of Dynamic (Quick Response) QR Code on B2C invoices and compliance of notification 14/2020- Central Tax dated 21st March 2020 - Reg.
To
The Principal Chief Commissioners / Chief Commissioners / Principal Commissioners / Commissioners of Central Tax (All)
The Principal Director Generals / Director Generals (All)
Madam/Sir,
Subject: Clarification in respect of applicability of Dynamic (Quick Response) QR Code on B2C invoices and compliance of notification 14/2020- Central Tax dated 21st March, 2020 - Reg.
Notification No. 14/2020-Central Tax, dated 21st March 2020 had been issued which requires Dynamic QR Code on B2C invoice issued by taxpayers having aggregate turnover more than 500 crore rupees, w.e.f. 01.12.2020. Further, vide notification No. 06/2021-Central Tax, dated 30th March 2021, penalty has been waived for non-compliance of the provisions of notification No.14/2020 – Central Tax for the period from 01st December, 2020 to 30th June, 2021, subject to the condition that the said person complies with the provisions of the said notification from 1st July, 2021. Further, various issues on Dynamic QR Code have been clarified vide Circular No. 146/2/2021-GST, dated 23.02.2021.
2. Various references have been received from trade and industry seeking clarification on applicability of Dynamic Quick Response (QR) Code on B2C (Registered person to Customer) invoices and compliance of notification 14/2020-Central Tax, dated 21st March, 2020 as amended. The issues have been examined and in order to ensure uniformity in the implementation of the provisions of the law across the field formations, the Board, in exercise of its powers conferred under section 168(1) of the CGST Act, 2017, hereby clarifies the issues in the table below:
| 1. | Whether Dynamic QR Code is to be provided on an invoice, issued to a person, who has obtained a Unique Identity Number as per the provisions of Sub-Section 9 of Section 25 of CGST Act 2017? | Any person, who has obtained a Unique Identity Number (UIN) as per the provisions of Sub-Section 9 of Section 25 of CGST Act 2017, is not a “registered person” as per the definition of registered person provided in section 2(94) of the CGST Act 2017. Therefore, any invoice, issued to such person having a UIN, shall be considered as invoice issued for a B2C supply and shall be required to comply with the requirement of Dynamic QR Code. |
| 2. | UPI ID is linked to the bank account of the payee/ person collecting money. Whether bank account and IFSC details also need to be provided separately in the Dynamic QR Code along with UPI ID? | Given that UPI ID is linked to a specific bank account of the payee/ person collecting money, separate details of bank account and IFSC may not be provided in the Dynamic QR Code. |
| 3. | In cases where the payment is collected by some person other than the supplier (ECO or any other person authorized by the supplier on his/ her behalf), whether in such cases, in place of UPI ID of the supplier, the UPI ID of such person, who is authorized to collect the payment on behalf of the supplier, may be provided? | Yes. In such cases where the payment is collected by some person, authorized by the supplier on his/ her behalf, the UPI ID of such person may be provided in the Dynamic QR Code, instead of UPI ID of the supplier. |
| 4. | In cases, where receiver of services is located outside India, and payment is being received by the supplier of services in foreign exchange, through RBI approved modes of payment, but as per provisions of the IGST Act 2017, the place of supply of such services is in India, then such supply of services is not considered as export of services as per the IGST Act 2017; whether in such cases, the Dynamic QR Code is required on the invoice issued, for such supply of services, to such recipient located outside India? | No. Wherever an invoice is issued to a recipient located outside India, for supply of services, for which the place of supply is in India, as per the provisions of IGST Act 2017, and the payment is received by the supplier in foreign currency, through RBI approved mediums, such invoice may be issued without having a Dynamic QR Code, as such dynamic QR code cannot be used by the recipient located outside India for making payment to the supplier. |
| 5. | In some instances of retail sales over the counter, the payment from the customer in received on the payment counter by displaying dynamic QR code on digital display, whereas the invoice, along with invoice number, is generated on the processing system being used by supplier/ merchant after receiving the payment. In such cases, it may not be possible for the merchant/ supplier to provide details of invoice number in the dynamic QR code displayed to the customer on payment counter. However, each transaction i.e. receipt of payment from a customer is having a unique Order ID/ sales reference number, which is linked with the invoice for the said transaction. Whether in such cases, the order ID/ reference number of such transaction can be provided in the dynamic QR code displayed digitally, instead of invoice number. | In such cases, where the invoice number is not available at the time of digital display of dynamic QR code in case of over the counter sales and the invoice number and invoices are generated after receipt of payment, the unique order ID/ unique sales reference number, which is uniquely linked to the invoice issued for the said transaction, may be provided in the Dynamic QR Code for digital display, as long as the details of such unique order ID/ sales reference number linkage with the invoice are available on the processing system of the merchant/ supplier and the cross reference of such payment along with unique order ID/ sales reference number are also provided on the invoice. |
| 6. | When part-payment has already been received by the merchant/ supplier, either in advance or by adjustment (e.g. using a voucher, discount coupon etc), before the dynamic QR Code is generated, what amount should be provided in the Dynamic QR Code for “invoice value”? | The purpose of dynamic QR Code is to enable the recipient/ customer to scan and pay the amount to be paid to the merchant/ supplier in respect of the said supply. When the part-payment for any supply has already been received from the customer/ recipient, in form of either advance or adjustment through voucher/ discount coupon etc., then the dynamic QR code may provide only the remaining amount payable by the customer/ recipient against “invoice value”. The details of total invoice value, along with details/ cross reference of the part- payment/ advance/ adjustment done, and the remaining amount to be paid, should be provided on the invoice. |
3. Circular No. 146/2/2021-GST, dated 23.02.2021 stands modified to this extent.
4. It is requested that suitable trade notices may be issued to publicize the contents of this circular.
5. Difficulty, if any, in the implementation of the above instructions may please be brought to the notice of the Board. Hindi version would follow.
(Sanjay Mangal)
Commissioner
📚 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Circular No. 156/12/2021 - GST
Q1. What is Circular No. 156/12/2021-GST about?
Answer:
Circular No. 156/12/2021-GST clarifies several practical issues relating to the applicability of Dynamic QR Codes on B2C invoices issued under Notification No. 14/2020-Central Tax.
It covers UIN holders, UPI IDs, overseas customers, retail counter sales, and part-payment scenarios.
Q2. Who is required to issue Dynamic QR Code on B2C invoices?
Answer:
Registered taxpayers with an aggregate turnover exceeding ₹500 crore are required to issue Dynamic QR Codes on applicable B2C invoices in accordance with Notification No. 14/2020-Central Tax.
Q3. Is a UIN holder treated as a registered person for this purpose?
Answer:
No.
A person holding a Unique Identity Number (UIN) is not considered a registered person under Section 2(94) of the CGST Act. Therefore, invoices issued to UIN holders are treated as B2C invoices and require a Dynamic QR Code.
Q4. Is it mandatory to include bank account and IFSC details in the QR Code?
Answer:
No.
If the QR Code contains the UPI ID, separate bank account and IFSC details are not required because the UPI ID is already linked to the relevant bank account.
Q5. Can an authorised collection agent's UPI ID be used?
Answer:
Yes.
Where payment is collected by an e-commerce operator or another authorised person, the Dynamic QR Code may contain the UPI ID of that authorised person instead of the supplier.
Q6. Is a Dynamic QR Code required on invoices issued to foreign customers?
Answer:
Not in the specific situation clarified by the circular.
Where the recipient is located outside India, the place of supply is in India, and payment is received through RBI-approved foreign exchange channels, a Dynamic QR Code is not required because the overseas recipient cannot use it for payment.
Q7. Can retailers use an Order ID instead of the invoice number?
Answer:
Yes.
Where payment is received before invoice generation, the Dynamic QR Code may contain a unique Order ID or Sales Reference Number, provided it is uniquely linked with the invoice in the supplier's system.
Q8. How should advance payments be reflected in the Dynamic QR Code?
Answer:
The QR Code should display only the remaining amount payable by the customer.
The invoice should separately disclose the total invoice value, advance or adjustment already received, and the balance payable.
Q9. Does this circular modify any earlier clarification?
Answer:
Yes.
The circular specifically states that Circular No. 146/2/2021-GST dated 23 February 2021 stands modified to the extent of the new clarifications provided.
Q10. Why is this circular important for businesses?
Answer:
It addresses practical implementation issues that businesses encountered while complying with the Dynamic QR Code requirement, helping them adopt digital payment systems with greater certainty and fewer compliance challenges.
Download PDF: Circular No. 156/12/2021 - GST
More Information: https://taxinformation.cbic.gov.in/
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