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Notifications CBIC

CBIC2020-10-15

HSN Code Mandatory Disclosure on Tax Invoices — Turnover-Based Digit Requirement

Notification No. 78/2020 — Central Tax

Mandates HSN (Harmonised System of Nomenclature) code disclosure on GST tax invoices. Turnover-linked digit requirement: 4-digit HSN for AATO ≤ ₹5 Cr; 6-digit HSN for AATO > ₹5 Cr.
Issued
2020-10-15
Effective from
2021-04-01
Act
CGST Act 2017 r/w CGST Rules

What it says

Taxpayers with AATO ≤ ₹5 Crore

Must mention 4-digit HSN code on B2B supply invoices. For B2C supplies: no mandatory HSN disclosure on invoice (but must report in GSTR-1 for B2B).

Taxpayers with AATO > ₹5 Crore

Must mention 6-digit HSN code on ALL invoices (B2B and B2C). No exception for consumer invoices for large taxpayers.

Services — SAC codes

Services use SAC (Services Accounting Code) — a 6-digit code. Mandatory on invoices alongside goods HSN codes.

Affected forms and returns

  • Tax invoices (Rule 46)
  • GSTR-1 Table 12
⚠ VERIFY

Whether the HSN digit requirement was extended to 8-digit for any category of goods — as of Aug 2026, 6-digit is the maximum requirement for large taxpayers. Verify if any subsequent notification mandated 8-digit for specific commodity categories. Also confirm AATO threshold basis: preceding FY or self-declaration.

Primary source

Notification No. 78/2020 — Central Tax — issued by CBIC under CGST Act 2017 r/w CGST Rules

View official notification ↗