Every small and medium-sized company is attempting to shape its financial ecology in today’s highly competitive business environment. The majority of firms are shifting to cloud-based accounting and billing software for generating invoices, e-way bills, accounting, and other tasks. Under GST laws in India, a delivery challan is a vital document for continual communication between sellers and purchasers. According to Section 31 of the CGST Act 2017, registered users who transport taxable goods must submit a bill of sale with the amount and necessary information. Similarly, GST delivery challans are essential for carrying and distributing goods.
A tax invoice is required for every supply of goods or services under the Goods and Services Tax (GST). Specific transactions involving the movement of products from one site to another, such as relocating machinery or transporting commodities to a separate branch inside the state, however, are not considered as supplies. Regardless of the lack of a supply in these cases, it is important to issue a delivery challan rather than a tax invoice to simplify the transfer of the commodities while following regulatory standards.
Meaning of delivery challan
A delivery challan is an official document which is issued by businesses that sell products. It is used from the perspective of the Goods and Services Tax (GST). It serves as a record of the goods that are transported from one place to another. The main purpose is to track the goods while they are being transported. It provides information about the products, including their quantity and number, as well as additional relevant characteristics.
A GST delivery challan is crucial for transactions involving the transfer of goods without a sale. It may be used, for instance, to send items for job work or to transfer commodities between branches of the same company. It facilitates compliance with GST requirements and aids in the maintenance of appropriate documents.
Generating a delivery challan in accordance with the GST Law
When the transfer of goods is necessary without generating a tax invoice, a delivery challan is issued. Here are some instances when a GST delivery challan is used:
Goods for a job work
When goods are sent to a job worker for processing, repair, or any other reason, a delivery challan is given instead of a tax invoice. The goods are returned to the sender once the job is completed.
Exhibition or trade fairs
If the products or items are provided for display in exhibits, trade fairs, or distributed as free samples, a delivery challan is given to ease their movement without a tax invoice.
Goods transfer between branches
When goods are transported from one branch of the same company to another, a delivery challan is given to document the movement without generating a tax invoice.
Goods on approval supply
A delivery challan for small businesses is used to send products without a tax invoice until they are approved by the recipient in instances where items are supplied on an approval or sale-or-return basis.
Export supply
Delivery challan for exporters are used in the export of products to move items from one place to another without the need of a tax invoice.
Benefits of a delivery challan
A GST delivery challan is a document that accompanies goods during transportation. It is also known as a delivery note or delivery receipt.
Here are some benefits of a delivery challan:
Delivery proof
- A delivery challan acts as a proof of delivery.
- It ensures that the products are delivered to the designated recipient.
- It includes all the vital details of the goods, such as number of items, description, and so on.
Delivery tracking
- Through delivery challan for small businesses, they can keep track of all the goods they have delivered to their customers.
- This ensures that all the products have been delivered as per the order.
Facilitates invoicing
- Delivery challans can be used to easily create invoices from a sales order.
- A GST delivery challan provides the necessary information for generating accurate invoices, such as the quantity and description of the delivered goods.
Minimizes errors
- The use of digital delivery challans can help reduce errors and avoid losses.
- Digital GST delivery challans provide faster and easier access to information, minimizing the chances of manual errors in recording and processing deliveries.
Saves valuable time
- Using a delivery challan template can save time in creating consistent delivery notes.
- With the help of predefined templates, businesses can quickly fill out the necessary fields and generate professional-looking delivery challans.
Convenience and centralized tracking
- Cloud-based software suites can store delivery challans in a centralized database.
- This makes it easier to track and check them.
- It enables businesses to monitor their shipments, keep customer records separate, and easily access delivery information whenever required.
Format of the delivery challan
The GST delivery challan format may vary based on the specific needs of a business or the regulatory requirements of a specific country or region. Below is a basic outline of the delivery challan format:
Serial number
The delivery challan under GST regulations includes a pre-assigned serial number.
Issuance date
The format incorporates the date on which the delivery challan is issued.
Header details
The header section includes vital details such as the consignor’s logo, name, address, GSTIN (Goods and Services Tax Identification Number), and Challan Identification Number.
Consignee details
The delivery challan format includes information about the consignee – name, address, GSTIN.
Product information
Detailed information about the products is provided. It includes product descriptions and Harmonized System of Nomenclature (HSN) codes.
Quantity
The quantity of the goods being transported is specified in the delivery challan format.
Financial details
Financial aspects are outlined. This includes the total taxable value, price per unit of the item, overall amount, and any discounts provided.
GST amount
The GST amount applicable is clearly mentioned in the delivery challan.
Interstate movement details
In cases of interstate movement, the location of supply is indicated in the delivery challan format.
Authorized Signature
The format concludes with the signature of an authorized person, confirming the legitimacy of the goods that are being transported.
Key components of a GST delivery challan
The GST delivery challan, assigned a serial number not exceeding 16 characters, whether in a singular or multiple series, must include the following particulars:
- Date and number of the delivery challan
- Name, address and GSTIN of the consigner
- Name, address and GSTIN of the consignee
- HSN code and description of goods;
- Quantity (provisional, where the exact quantity being
- supplied is not known)
- Taxable value
- Tax rate and tax amount – Central tax (CGST), State tax (SGST), Integrated tax (IGST)
- Place of supply
- Signature
A sample delivery challan (specimen)
Generation of delivery challans in Triplicate
The delivery challan, in the event of goods supply, is to be generated in triplicate and should follow this format:
- The first copy is designated as the “ORIGINAL FOR CONSIGNEE.”
- The second copy is designated as the “DUPLICATE FOR TRANSPORTER.”
- The third copy is designated as the “TRIPLICATE FOR CONSIGNER.”
Step-by-step process to generate a delivery challan for small businesses
Understand the purpose behind generating the delivery challan
Identify the purpose behind issuing the proof of purchase, whether it is for job work, exhibition, inter-branch transfer, or any other valid reason.
Create the delivery challan
Create the delivery challan with all the essential details such as the sender’s name, address, GSTIN, receiver’s name, address, GSTIN, challan number, issuance date, and a precise description of the transported goods, including quantity and HSN/SAC codes.
Verify e-way bill requirement
Assess whether the value of the transported goods surpasses the GST threshold limit. If it does, confirm the necessity of an e-way bill. If required, generate the e-way bill with relevant information and affix it to the proof of purchase.
Declaration
Add a declaration to the delivery challan, highlighting the purpose of the goods’ movement and certifying the accuracy and truthfulness of all provided information.
Signatures
Ensure both the sender and receiver sign the delivery challan, signifying acknowledgment of the goods’ movement.
Record maintenance
Preserve a duplicate of the issued delivery challan and associated documents for record purpose. It is crucial to retain these records for a minimum of three years (72 months) from the issuance date as per the GST rules and regulations.
Issuance and handover
Provide the delivery challan to the individual responsible for transporting the goods, ensuring it accompanies the goods throughout transit.
Follow-up
Subsequent to the movement of the goods, follow up with the receiver to verify that the goods were received as intended. In cases of job work, ensure the return of goods upon completion of the job.
Also Read: How Digital Billing Solutions Simplify Challenges for MSMEs
Conclusion
The careful preparation and issue of a delivery challan for small businesses is essential in guaranteeing the seamless movement of products. Organizations may improve effectiveness and compliance in their supply chain management by understanding and methodically creating the delivery challan with accurate data. The GST delivery challan must comply with regulatory standards such as E-way bills where appropriate. An effectively managed delivery challan procedure, in essence, is critical to ensuring transparency, compliance, and successful logistics management.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about delivery challans
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about delivery challans.
1) What is the meaning of delivery challan?
A delivery challan is a document to monitor product shipments. It ensures timely delivery without hassles like missing or damaged items.
2) Why is a delivery challan necessary for businesses?
A delivery challan is crucial for businesses to:
- Track shipments
- Ensure on-time delivery
- Confirm receipt by the party/customer
- Resolve issues pertaining to damaged or missing product
3) Which are the main components of a delivery challan?
The key components of a delivery challan are:
- Supplier’s name and address
- Recipient’s name and address
- Shipment date
- Delivery challan number
4)How can businesses ensure that their delivery challans are efficient?
Businesses can ensure efficiency of their delivery challans by:
- Using a template having all the essential information
- Assigning a unique number for a particular shipment
- Preserving a copy of the delivery challan for record purpose
5)Who is supposed to issue delivery challans?
Businesses delivering products are required to issue delivery challans. These include:
- Retailers
- Wholesalers
- Manufacturers
- Distributors
- E-commerce businesses
6) What is the main difference between a delivery challan and E-challan?
Delivery challan is in physical form, while e-challan is electronic.
7) How many copies of a delivery challan need to be generated?
Three copies of the delivery challan need to be generated. They should be labeled as:
- Original for consignee
- Duplicate for transporter
- Triplicate for consignor
8) What information (details) are required in a delivery challan?
The delivery challan should have the following information:
- Consignor’s business details
- Shipment date
- Challan number
- Supplier’s state
- Transportation details
- Consignee’s state and GSTIN
- Product description andHSN code, quantity
- Rate per unit, total amount, discounts, taxable value
- GST details (IGST, CGST, SGST)
- Calculated total.
9) What is the difference between a delivery challan and a tax invoice?
Distinguishing between a delivery challan and a tax invoice involves considering various aspects:
| Parameter | Tax invoice | Delivery challan |
| Ownership and legal responsibilities | Establishes ownership and legal responsibilities. | Lacks proof of ownership or legal responsibilities. |
| Value representation | Actual value of goods is presented. | Signifies that the customer/client has acknowledged receipt of the goods but does not reflect the actual value. |
| Transaction confirmation | Serves as evidence that a sale transaction has occurred. | Delivery challan may or may not result in a sale. |
| Financial information | Provides comprehensive details, including the actual value and applicable taxes. | Displays the rate of a specific product but not the complete value of the sale. |
10) What exactly is a returnable challan?
A returnable challan is a document used to temporarily transport goods. After usage, the recipient is expected to return the identical goods. This challan is commonly used for contract labor, repairs, or exhibits. It indicates the returnable character of items. It monitors their temporary travel without concluding the distribution until the products are returned.
