Free Book Invoice Generator India, 0% GST on Printed Books

Bookshop, library, school book set and online seller invoices. Printed books at 0% GST (HSN 4901), magazines and journals at 0% (HSN 4902), children's picture books at 0% (HSN 4903). E-books separately classified, verify the current rate via the CBIC rate finder. ISBN per title.

  • 0% GST on printed books
  • HSN 4901 / 4902 / 4903
  • Per-item HSN handling
  • Library / retail / online
  • ISBN field captured
  • No signup to browse

Book Invoice

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Book Details
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Book Receipt

Bill To,
Receipt Details
Customer Name: Rajesh Kumar Sharma
Receipt No: 342564
Book Name: The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business
Receipt Date: 13 May 2026
Book Publisher: Random House India
Payment Method: Cash
Receipt Summary
ItemDescriptionQtyPriceTotal
The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and BusinessNew York Times Bestseller. A groundbreaking exploration of the science of habit formation and how small changes can make a big difference in your life.2450.00₹ 900.00
Total: ₹ 900.00
Thank You! Visit Again
A room without books is like a body without a soul
Take a good book to bed with you books do not snore

PDF downloads are currently available without watermark.

Used by Indian businesses

“Our school orders 200+ titles for the new academic year. This generates the bulk invoice in our publisher format with all ISBNs.”
Mrs. Anitha K. · School librarian · Coimbatore
“I run a small Marathi book shop. Our distributor's invoice was confusing. Recreated my own with 0% GST on books and 12% on registers.”
Vinod J. · Bookshop owner · Pune
“Online sale of academic textbooks, GSTIN-ready invoice format that my buyer's college accepted instantly.”
Saurabh M. · Online textbook seller · Lucknow

What you get

0% GST on printed books

All printed books (HSN 4901), children's picture books (HSN 4903), and magazines/periodicals (HSN 4902) are GST-exempt. Auto-applied.

E-book 5% rate

Digital books / e-books were brought under 5% GST in 2018 (GST Council 28th meeting). Different from print, captured separately.

ISBN per title

International Standard Book Number capture matters for library systems and B2B distribution. Optional but recommended for school sets.

Mixed cart support

A single invoice can mix exempt books with taxable stationery (notebooks at 12%, pens at 12%), each line carries its own rate.

How it works

  1. 1

    Pick the bookshop format

    Brick-and-mortar bookshop, library, school book-set bundle, online retailer. Each layout matches the format used in Indian publishing trade.

  2. 2

    Add titles by line

    Title, author, publisher, ISBN, MRP, quantity. The generator applies 0% to printed books (HSN 4901), 5% to e-books, 12% to bundled stationery.

  3. 3

    Download the invoice

    Use as a school/library purchase record, B2B distribution invoice, or customer receipt for personal records.

About this book invoice

Why printed books are 0% GST

India treats printed books as an essential cultural and educational good. Under CBIC Notification 2/2017 - Central Tax (Rate), printed books, brochures, leaflets, and similar printed matter (HSN 4901) carry a 0% GST rate (exempt). The same exemption covers:

  • Newspapers, journals, and periodicals (HSN 4902)
  • Children's picture, drawing, and colouring books (HSN 4903)
  • Music, printed or in manuscript (HSN 4904)
  • Maps and hydrographic charts (HSN 4905)

The exemption was deliberate at GST rollout (1 July 2017) and has been retained at every GST Council review since. The rationale: keep books affordable, support reading culture, and preserve the print-publishing trade.

Where it gets nuanced, e-books

E-books (digital editions) sit in a different category from printed books and have moved between rates several times. Historically, the 28th GST Council meeting (21 July 2018) reduced e-books from 18% to 5% where a corresponding printed version existed. The 22 September 2025 GST 2.0 reform abolished the 12% slab and rationalised many digital-service rates; e-book classification under the simplified 5% / 18% structure is currently being interpreted by the trade. Practical advice: verify the current rate against the CBIC rate finder before issuing the invoice, most e-book platforms today bill at 18% as a digital service.

  • Streaming subscriptions (Audible streaming, Kindle Unlimited streaming-only mode, Spotify audiobooks) are classified as broadcasting/streaming services at 18% GST.
  • Downloaded files (one-time purchase EPUB/PDF, Audible offline downloads) historically got the lower e-book rate but check current classification.
  • The line is whether the user "owns" a downloadable file or "rents" an experience.

Bundled stationery and books

School book sets often bundle textbooks (0%) with workbooks, notebooks, pencils, and erasers (typically 12% under HSN 4820 / 9608). The invoice must split each line by HSN; you can't apply a single rate to a mixed bundle. Per Rule 46(l), each rate's taxable value, CGST, and SGST appear separately.

Imports and customs

Imported printed books carry the same 0% GST under IGST. However, basic customs duty applies for non-LDC imports, currently 0% on most printed books under WTO commitments. So a Penguin India edition of a US-published book has the same 0% GST treatment as an Indian-original Hindi novel.

What about textbook subscriptions?

Some publishers (Pearson, Macmillan) sell textbook subscriptions where the student gets a printed copy + online access. The print component is 0% (HSN 4901); the online access is treated as e-book service at 5%. The invoice should split:

  • Textbook (printed), 0%
  • Online platform access, 5%

Libraries and B2B sales

School and college libraries buying books in bulk receive standard 0% GST invoices. The bookshop / publisher's GSTIN appears on the invoice for record-keeping and audit, even though no GST is charged. The library's PAN should be quoted for orders above ₹1 lakh in a financial year (general rule for high-value PAN reporting).

Common mistakes

  • Charging GST on printed books. Wrong; they're exempt. Customers will challenge.
  • Treating e-books as printed books. E-books are 5%, not 0%.
  • Bundling notebooks + textbooks under a single 0% line. Notebooks are 12%; must split per HSN.
  • Treating an Audible subscription as a 5% e-book. Streaming services are 18%; only downloads qualify for the 5% e-book rate.

Frequently asked

Book invoice kaise banaye, is this generator free?
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Yes. Preview unlimited times without signing up. PDF download uses one credit after signup; signup gives 10 free credits with no card required.
Why are printed books 0% GST in 2026?
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Per CBIC Notification 2/2017, printed books (HSN 4901), children's picture books (HSN 4903), magazines and journals (HSN 4902), and printed music (HSN 4904) are exempt, to keep them affordable and support India's reading culture. The exemption was retained through every GST Council review including the 22 September 2025 GST 2.0 reform.
Are e-books also 0%?
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No. E-books sit in a different classification from printed books. The rate has moved between 18% and 5% across GST Council meetings. After the 22 September 2025 reform (which abolished the 12% slab and simplified to 5%/18%), most e-book platforms bill at 18%. Verify the current rate against the CBIC rate finder before invoicing.
What about audiobooks?
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Downloaded audiobooks (e.g. Audible offline) are treated as e-books at 5%. Streaming audiobook subscriptions are 18% as broadcasting services.
Can I bundle books and stationery on one invoice?
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Yes, but each line must carry its own GST rate, books at 0%, notebooks/pens at 12%. Per Rule 46(l), the invoice splits the GST by bracket.
Do imported books attract GST?
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No, same 0% rate domestically. Basic customs duty is currently 0% on most imported books, so no extra charge from that side either.
What's the correct HSN for textbooks?
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HSN 4901 covers all printed books including textbooks, reference books, fiction, and academic. HSN 4903 is specific to children's picture/drawing/colouring books, also 0%.
Do schools / libraries get a different invoice format?
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Same 0% rate, but bulk orders typically include ISBN per title and a class/grade column for school book sets. Our school template captures that.
Can my company claim ITC on books?
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ITC is irrelevant, books are 0% GST, so there's no input tax to credit. Just record the expense in your books.
Can I bulk-generate invoices for a year of book orders?
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Yes, Bulk tab, upload a CSV with order dates, titles, and amounts. Generate up to 100 invoices.

Other free Indian bill formats

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