GST invoices for your website customers: how they work for travel agents

When customers book on your own website, they expect paperwork in your name. This guide describes what an Idea Holiday agent website gives them, and how GST invoices and credit notes work for travel agents who have a verified GSTIN. It describes how the website works. It is not tax advice, so check your own treatment with your accountant.

What every customer gets

Whether or not you switch on GST invoices, customers get a booking confirmation and a payment receipt in your name. Idea Holiday invoices you separately for its own fees: your plan, your domain plan if you have one, and booking fees.

Switching on GST invoices

GST invoices online are for travel agents with a verified GSTIN. On your website page, switch on GST invoices to your customers and choose a number prefix. Invoice numbers look like WEB/2627/0001 and restart each financial year.

From then on, every confirmed customer booking gets a tax invoice in your name shortly after confirmation. Customers print it from My account or from their booking page. You can also invoice older bookings from the list on the same page.

What the invoice shows

• The fare or hotel charges are shown as collected on behalf of the customer (pure agent).
• Your markup is shown as your service fee, with 18% GST inside it, so the customer's price does not change.
• CGST and SGST apply when the customer is in your state or gives no state. IGST applies otherwise.

You can correct the customer's billing name, address, GSTIN or state after the invoice is made. The invoice number and date stay the same.

When a booking is cancelled

When an invoiced booking is cancelled, a credit note (numbers look like CN/2627/0001) reverses the whole service fee and its GST by itself, usually within the hour. You and the customer can print it. After a credit note is issued, the invoice can no longer be changed.

For your GST return

You can download an Excel file of the invoices and credit notes for any period. Credit notes appear as negative rows.

Without a GSTIN

If you have no verified GSTIN, or you leave the setting off, you issue your own tax invoice to your customer for your markup.

Common questions

Does the customer pay more because of GST on my markup?

No. Your markup is your service fee with 18% GST inside it, so the customer's price does not change.

Are invoice numbers shared with other agents?

No. Numbers are made for your website with the prefix you choose, and restart each financial year.

Can I change an invoice after a credit note?

No. After a credit note is issued, the invoice can no longer be changed.