How to use it
- 1Enter your business details once. They are saved on your device and reused in every format on this site.
- 2Add the customer, then each item with its HSN or SAC code, quantity, rate and GST %.
- 3Open Bank and UPI details and add your account and UPI ID, so the customer knows where to send the advance.
- 4Set the Valid until date, check the preview and press Download PDF / Print.
When a proforma invoice is the right document
- The customer has agreed to buy and you want an advance before you start or dispatch.
- The customer’s office needs a document to raise a purchase order or release a payment.
- The customer is arranging a loan, a letter of credit or an import licence and the bank wants to see the intended purchase.
- You are exporting and the buyer needs the value and description of the goods in advance.
Proforma invoice and tax invoice compared
| Proforma invoice | Tax invoice | |
|---|---|---|
| When | Before the sale | At the time of supply |
| Purpose | Confirms price and terms, requests an advance | Records the sale and charges the tax |
| Input tax credit for the customer | No | Yes |
| Reported in GST returns | No | Yes |
| Number series | Your own, for example PI-001 | Consecutive and unique for the financial year |
What to put on it
The same details as the final bill: your business and GSTIN, the customer, each item with HSN or SAC code, quantity, rate, GST and total, plus how to pay and until when the offer holds. This format prints the words Proforma Invoice clearly at the top so it is not mistaken for a tax invoice. It is good practice to add a line such as “This is not a tax invoice” in the terms.
After the advance arrives
Acknowledge the payment, and issue the tax invoice when you supply. Your business details are shared between all formats on this site, so the GST Invoice format needs only the customer and the items.
Questions people ask
Is a proforma invoice a tax invoice?
No. It is a statement of what you intend to bill, sent before the sale. The customer cannot claim input tax credit on it and you do not report it in your GST returns. The tax invoice is issued when you actually supply the goods or service.
Do I pay GST when I receive an advance against a proforma invoice?
For goods, GST is generally not payable at the time of the advance; it is paid when the invoice is issued. For services, GST is payable when the advance is received, and you issue a receipt voucher for it. Confirm your own case with your accountant.
Should a proforma invoice use my normal invoice numbers?
No. Keep a separate series such as PI-001. Tax invoice numbers must run consecutively, and a proforma that never turns into a sale would leave a gap in that series.
Will a bank accept a proforma invoice for a loan or letter of credit?
Banks and finance companies commonly ask for a proforma invoice or quotation as proof of the intended purchase, for example for machinery and vehicle loans or for opening a letter of credit. Ask the bank what it wants shown on the document.
What is the difference between a proforma invoice and a quotation?
A quotation is your price offer, sent while the customer is still deciding. A proforma invoice is sent after the customer agrees, carries the same details as the final bill, and is usually used to collect an advance.
What does the QR code on the proforma do?
It is a standard UPI QR with your UPI ID, the proforma amount and the proforma number. The customer scans it in any UPI app to pay you. Check your UPI ID carefully, because the money goes to that ID.
Can I print it in Hindi?
Yes. Switch Document language to हिंदी above the preview.
Last reviewed: 18 September 2026