How to Make GST Bills on Your Phone: Simple Mobile Guide for GST & Rent Invoice Creation
How to Make GST Bills on Your Phone: Simple Mobile Guide for GST & Rent Invoice Creation
Why Create GST Bills on Your Phone?
Smartphones have turned into powerful business tools. For small businesses, freelancers, shop owners and even landlords issuing a rent invoice, creating a GST bill directly on a mobile phone can save time, reduce paperwork and help you stay compliant with GST rules. Instead of depending on a desktop accounting system or manual bill books, you can generate professional GST invoices in a few taps and share them instantly with customers on WhatsApp, email or SMS.
Modern GST billing apps available on Android and iOS allow you to create GST and non-GST invoices, manage inventory, track payments and even generate basic GST reports. Many of them are free or offer generous free plans, making them ideal for small and medium businesses in India. In this guide, you will learn the practical steps to make GST bills on your phone, including how to create a rent invoice using the same apps.
What You Need Before You Start
Before you start making GST bills on your phone, keep these basic requirements ready:
1. GST Registration Details: Have your GSTIN, legal business name, trade name, address and contact information available so you can configure the app correctly.
2. Customer Information: Client name, billing address, shipping address (if different) and their GSTIN, especially for B2B transactions.
3. Product or Service List: Item names, HSN/SAC codes, tax rates (CGST, SGST, IGST), units and basic pricing details.
4. Smartphone with Internet: Most apps need at least occasional internet access to sync data and backup invoices, though some offer limited offline capability.
5. Optional – Bank and UPI Details: To display payment information like bank account number, UPI ID or QR code on your invoices.
Choosing the Right GST Billing App for Your Phone
There are several GST invoice and billing apps in India that are optimised for mobile use. While the exact interface differs, the overall process of creating a GST bill is broadly the same. Some popular categories of apps include:
- Dedicated GST billing apps like Swipe, GoGSTBill mobile app, Tally Invoice GST Billing App and similar tools that focus on quick invoicing and inventory management.
- Invoice maker apps that support GST fields, allowing you to add GSTIN, HSN/SAC, and tax percentages to each line item.
- Cloud-based GST software with mobile apps, which let you use the same data on both desktop and mobile and keep everything backed up.
When choosing a GST billing app, check for these features:
1. GST-compliant invoice format with fields for GSTIN, invoice number, date, place of supply, HSN/SAC codes and tax breakup.
2. Support for CGST, SGST and IGST automatically based on the state of the seller and buyer.
3. Easy sharing through WhatsApp, email or downloadable PDF.
4. Ability to create both product and service bills, including a dedicated rent invoice for landlords or businesses leasing property.
5. Basic reporting for sales, tax summary and payment tracking.
Step-by-Step: How to Make a GST Bill on Your Phone
Follow these general steps, which apply to most GST billing apps on Android and iOS:
1. Install and Set Up the GST Billing App
1. Open the Google Play Store or Apple App Store on your phone.
2. Search for terms like “GST invoice”, “GST billing app”, “invoice maker GST” or a specific app name you prefer.
3. Download and install the app, then open it to start the registration process.
4. Create an account using your mobile number or email address. Many apps use OTP verification for quick sign-up.
5. Enter your business profile details: business name, GSTIN, address, logo (optional) and preferred invoice prefix, such as INV/24-25/001.
Once the initial setup is done, the app will usually remember your preferences and automatically use them on every new GST bill you create.
2. Add Products or Services with GST Details
To avoid typing the same data repeatedly, add your products or services to the app’s item master:
1. Go to the Items/Products/Services section in the app’s menu.
2. For each item, fill in the name, unit, base price and optional description.
3. Add the correct HSN code for products or SAC code for services as required by GST regulations.
4. Set the applicable GST rate (such as 5%, 12%, 18% or 28%).
5. Save each item. Next time you create a GST bill, you will simply select the item, and the app will automatically fill its description, price and tax details.
3. Create a New GST Invoice
Now you are ready to make an actual GST bill on your phone:
1. From the home screen, tap on “Create Invoice” or a similar option such as “New Bill” or “GST Invoice”.
2. Choose whether this is a GST invoice or a non-GST invoice, if the app offers both options.
3. Select a customer from your saved list or add a new customer by entering their name, address, phone number and GSTIN (for registered buyers).
4. Ensure the place of supply and state are correctly selected; this decides whether CGST+SGST or IGST is applied.
5. The app generates an invoice number automatically, following the series you configured during setup.
4. Add Line Items and Taxes
Next, add the products or services you are billing for:
1. Tap on Add Item and choose items from the list you created earlier, or create a one-time custom item.
2. Enter quantity, discount (if any) and confirm the rate. The app calculates the taxable value automatically.
3. GST (CGST, SGST or IGST) is calculated and split by the app as per the configured tax rate and state details.
4. If required, add extra charges such as packaging, freight, or other service fees, and specify whether they are taxable.
5. Check the summary section, which usually lists Taxable Value, Total Tax and Invoice Total.
5. Add Payment Terms and Notes
To make your GST bill more informative and professional:
1. Add payment terms such as “Due on Receipt”, “7 Days Credit” or a specific due date.
2. Include your preferred payment methods: bank transfer details, UPI ID, QR code or cash instructions.
3. Use the notes or terms & conditions section to include any legal text, warranty information, or special conditions.
6. Save, Download and Share the GST Bill
After checking that all the details are correct, you can finalise the invoice:
1. Tap on Save or Generate to create the final GST bill.
2. View the invoice preview to ensure your logo, business details, GSTIN and tax breakup are visible.
3. Download the invoice as a PDF for your records or printing.
4. Share the GST bill with your customer directly from the app using WhatsApp, email or SMS. Most apps attach the PDF automatically and include a short message.
How to Create a Rent Invoice on Your Phone
If you are a landlord or a business renting out property, you may need a formal rent invoice every month, especially if GST is applicable on rent for commercial property. The good news is that the same mobile GST billing app can usually handle this without any extra software.
Here is how you can create a rent invoice using your phone:
1. In the items or services section, create a new service called “Monthly Office Rent”, “Shop Rent” or “House Rent”.
2. Assign the correct SAC code for rental services and the applicable GST rate if GST is required for your case.
3. When making the invoice each month, select this rent service as the line item and enter the rent amount.
4. The app will compute GST (if enabled) along with the base rent to generate a complete rent invoice that can be shared with your tenant.
5. Add a note mentioning the rental period, for example: “Rent invoice for the period 1st April 2025 to 30th April 2025”.
Using a GST billing app for a rent invoice gives you a clean, standardised format with proper numbering, date and tax details. It also helps you maintain a digital history of rent received and pending, which is useful for both accounting and tax purposes.
Best Practices for Mobile GST Billing
To keep your invoicing smooth and compliant when you rely on your phone:
1. Back up your data: Choose apps that automatically sync to the cloud so your invoices are safe even if you lose your phone.
2. Use a consistent invoice series to avoid duplication and confusion at the time of GST return filing.
3. Review tax rates regularly in case there are any GST rate changes by the government.
4. Secure your phone and app with a lock screen, PIN or biometric login, since your financial data is sensitive.
5. Export reports like sales registers and tax summaries from the app and share them with your accountant for return preparation.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
When making GST bills and rent invoices on your phone, try to avoid these frequent errors:
1. Incorrect GSTIN: Double-check your customer’s GSTIN, as mistakes can cause issues in their input tax credit claims.
2. Missing HSN/SAC codes: Many users ignore these fields, but they are important for certain thresholds and reporting.
3. Wrong place of supply: This can lead to charging IGST instead of CGST+SGST or vice versa.
4. No clear description: On a rent invoice, always mention the rental period, property address and other details so the invoice is self-explanatory.
5. Not updating customer details: If a customer changes address or GSTIN, update it in the app before issuing the next invoice.
Final Thoughts
Making GST bills on your phone is no longer a complicated, technical task meant only for accountants or large companies. With the right GST billing app, even a small shop owner, freelancer or landlord can create professional GST invoices and rent invoices in minutes. Focus on selecting a reliable app, entering accurate data once and then letting your phone handle the repetitive work. Over time, mobile GST billing not only saves effort but also gives you a clear, organised view of your business income, expenses and tax obligations.