Generate e-way bill via SMS mode – For Businesses

In case you are a registered business who wants to generate e-way bill via SMS mode, you will need to send the following SMS request:

EWBG / TranType / RecGSTIN/ DelPinCode / InvNo / InvDate / TotalValue / HSNCode / ApprDist / Vehicle

Note: There should be one space gap between every two parameters in the SMS, represented above with “/”

Before we proceed, let us understand, what each of these parameters stand for, along with the values that are permitted for each parameter (specified in brackets):

• EWBG – E-way bill Generation for Registered Businesses (Fixed value)
• TranType – Transaction Type (Value will depend on the type of transaction as listed below)
  • OSUP – Outward Supply
  • OEXP – Outward Export
  • OJOB – Outward Job Work
  • OSCD – Outward SKD / CKD
  • ORNK – Outward Recipient Not Known
  • OFOU – Outward For Own Use
  • OEOF – Outward Exhibitions & Fairs
  • OLNS – Outward Line Sales
  • OOTH – Outward Others
  • ISUP – Inward Supply
  • IIMP – Inward Import
  • ISCD – Inward SKD/CKD
  • IJWR – Inward Job Work Returns
  • ISLR – Inward Sales Returns
  • IEOF – Inward Exhibitions & Fairs
  • IOTH – Inward Others
• RecGSTIN – Recipient’s GSTIN or URP if he/she is an unregistered person (15 digits or URP)
• DelPinCode – PIN Code of the place of delivery as per the invoice (6 digits)
• InvNo – Invoice / Bill number (Maximum of 15 characters which may be alphanumeric with “-“ and “/” being the only permitted special characters)
• InvDate – Invoice / Bill date (In DD/MM/YYYY format)
• TotalValue – Total Invoice / Bill value (Maximum of 15 digits with 2 decimal places)
• HSN Code – HSN Code (At least 2 digits)
• ApprDist – Approximate Distance in KMs (Numeric)
• Vehicle – Vehicle number which will carry the goods (AB12AB1234 / AB12A1234 / AB121234 / ABC1234 format)

The SMS will need to be sent to the registered mobile number of the State from which you are operating. For instance, all taxpayers in Karnataka will be sending the SMS to 97319 79899. Similarly, each State will have a specified contact number for SMS mode.

Let us complete our understanding by means of an example:

Prabhas Traders of Bangalore, Karnataka wants to deliver goods worth INR 75,000, bearing HSN Code 1001, against an invoice no. 546, dated 1^st April, 2018 to Shiva & Co. at Nanjangud, Karnataka (GSTIN; 29AABCX0892K1ZK), via vehicle number KA 12 AB 1234 covering a distance of 170 KM.

The SMS to be typed in by Mr. Prabhas will be:

“EWBG OSUP 29AABCX0892K1ZK 571301 546 01/04/2018 75000.00 1001 170 KA12AB1234”

He will send this SMS to 97319 79899, as specified for Karnataka. If all is in order, he will receive the following a confirmation message:

“E-way bill generated successfully. E-Way Bill No: 171000000144 and date is 01/04/2018.”

How to update e-way bill with vehicle number

In case you want to update e-way bill with the new vehicle number, using the SMS mode, you will need to send the following SMS request:

EWBV / EWB_NO / Vehicle / ReasCode

Before we proceed, let us understand, what each of these parameters stand for, along with the values that are permitted for each parameter (specified in brackets):

• EWBV – E-way bill Vehicle Updation (Fixed value)
• EWB_NO – E-way bill Number (12 digits)
• Vehicle – Vehicle number which will carry the goods (AB12AB1234 / AB12A1234 / AB121234 / ABC1234 format)
• ReasCode – Reason for changing the vehicle (Value will depend on the reasons as listed below)
  • FST – First Vehicle
  • BRK – Break Down
  • TRS – Transhipment
  • OTH – Others

The SMS to change e-way bill, will need to be sent to the registered mobile number of the State from which you are operating. For instance, all users in Karnataka will be sending the SMS to 97319 79899. Similarly, each State will have a specified contact number for SMS mode.

Let us complete our understanding by means of an example:

Manjunatha Transports of Bangalore, Karnataka, is delivering goods worth INR 75,000, on behalf of the supplier Prabhas Traders of Bangalore, Karnataka (GSTIN: 29AXYCX0892K1ZK), bearing HSN Code 1001, against an invoice no. 546, dated 1^st April, 2018 to Shiva & Co. at Nanjangud, Karnataka (GSTIN: 29AABCX0892K1ZK), via vehicle number KA 12 AB 1234 covering a distance of 170 KM. The e-way bill number generated for the same is 171000000144 and it is dated 01/04/2018.

Now, the vehicle breaks down during the journey on 15/04/2018 afternoon and Manjunatha Transports arranges an alternate vehicle bearing registration number KA 12 XY 1234 for the delivery of the consignment to the destination.

The SMS to be typed in by Manjunatha Transports in order to update e-way bill will be:

“EWBV 171000000144 KA12XY1234 BRK”

He will send this SMS to 97319 79899, as specified for Karnataka. If all is in order, he will receive the following a confirmation message:

“Vehicle details updated successfully and date is 15/04/2018”

However, let us assume that Manjunatha Transporters is now delivering goods to Shaktivel Inc. at Hosur, Tamil Nadu, and the vehicle breaks down in Tamil Nadu. Understandably, the new vehicle may have a TN registration, but the SMS to change e-way bill, will still need to be sent to the Karnataka number i.e. 97319 79899, as Manjunatha Transporters is operating out of Karnataka.

Note: A few points which you need to keep in mind, with regards to updating the e-way bill via SMS Mode are as follows:

• Vehicle updating is allowed only for the tax payer who has generated or the transporter who has been authorized while generating the e-way bill
• Vehicle updating will not be allowed, if the validity period as per the distance mentioned in e-way bill expires

How to cancel e-way bill using SMS Mode

In case you want to cancel e-way bill, using the SMS mode, you will need to send the following SMS request:

EWBC / EWB_NO

Before we proceed, let us understand, what each of these parameters stand for, along with the values that are permitted for each parameter (specified in brackets):

• EWBC – E-way bill Cancellation (Fixed value)
• EWB_NO – E-way bill Number (12 digits)

The SMS will need to be sent to the registered mobile number of the State from which you are operating. For instance, all users in Karnataka will be sending the SMS to 97319 79899. Similarly, each State will have a specified contact number for SMS mode.

Let us complete our understanding by means of an example:

Prabhas Traders of Bangalore, Karnataka wants to cancel e-way bill generated by him bearing the number 171000000144.

The SMS to be typed in by Prabhas Traders will be:

“EWBC 171000000144”

He will send this SMS to 97319 79899, as specified for Karnataka. If all is in order, he will receive the following a confirmation message:

“E-way bill is cancelled successfully.”

Note: A few points which you need to keep in mind, with regards to cancelling the e-way bill via SMS Mode are as follows:

• Cancellation is allowed only for the generator of the e-way bill
• Cancellation is allowed only within 24 hours of generation of the e-way bill
• Verified e-way bill cannot be cancelled

Ever since December 2017, when the e-way bill came back into the scheme of things under GST, businesses and transporters have been proactively equipping themselves for a smooth e-way bill implementation. Trial runs of the same started in January and a full-fledged roll-out was attempted in February, which unfortunately was deferred due to technical glitches in the portal. However, at the 26^th GST Council meet, a new date for e-way implementation has been set as the 1^st of April, 2018 with 1^st June, 2018 being the target date for a nation-wide roll-out completion. While businesses need to be aware about the e-way bill rules in great detail, they also need to be aware about when is e-way bill not required, which is bound to save time and effort. In this blog, we will understand all those cases, where the movement of goods does not warrant the generation of an e-way bill irrespective of the value of movement of goods, as well as the e-way bill exemption list for all goods for which e-way bill is not mandatory.

When is e-way bill not required

If you want to know when is EWB not required, here are the following scenarios:

• Where goods are being transported by a non-motorised conveyance
• Where goods are being transported from the customs port, airport, air cargo complex and land customs station to an Inland Container Depot (ICD) or a Container Freight Station (CFS) for clearance by customs
• Where goods are being transported under customs bond from an Inland Container Depot (ICD) or a Container Freight Station (CFS) to a customs port, airport, air cargo complex and land customs station
• Where goods are being transported under customs supervision or under customs seal
• Where goods are being transported from one customs station or port to another customs station or port
• Where goods are being transported as transit cargo from or to Nepal or Bhutan
• Where goods are being transported up to a distance of 20 KMs from the place of the business of the consignor to a weigh-bridge for weighing or from the weigh-bridge back to the place of the business of the said consignor. However, in this case, the movement of goods has to be accompanied by a delivery challan
• Where goods are being transported by rail and the consignor of goods is the Central Government, State Governments or a local authority
• Where empty cargo containers are being transported
• Where movement of goods is being caused by defence formation under the Ministry of Defence as a consignor or a consignee
• E-way bill not required, where the following goods are transported, which are goods exempted from e-way bill:
  • Alcoholic liquor for human consumption
  • Petroleum crude
  • High speed diesel
  • Motor spirit (commonly known as petrol)
  • Natural gas
  • Aviation turbine fuel
  • Liquefied petroleum gas for supply to household and non-domestic exempted category (NDEC) customers
  • Kerosene oil sold under public distribution system (PDS)
  • Postal baggage transported by Department of Posts
  • Natural or cultured pearls and precious or semi-precious stones
  • Precious metals and metals clad with precious metal
  • Jewellery, goldsmiths’ and silversmiths’ wares and other articles
  • Currency
  • Used personal and household effects
  • Coral, unworked and worked coral
  • Goods, apart from de-oiled cake, which are exempt from tax under notification no. 7/2017 and notification no. 26/2017 under Central Tax, which are subject to amendment from time to time
  • E-way bill not required for goods which are treated as no supply under Schedule III of the CGST Act
  • Goods exempted from e-way bill under Rule 138 (14) in the respective State / Union Territory GST rules – i.e. list of 153 items exempt from e-way bill, including most items for household and daily use

Businesses and transporters will thus need to keep this e-way bill exemption list in mind, so that they are aware about when to generate, and when not to generate the e-way bill for movement of goods.

As per the e-way bill rules, there are certain scenarios, where e-way bill requirement is mandatory, irrespective of the value of the consignment. In other words, even if the value of the consignment is less than INR 50,000, such scenarios warrant an e-way bill to be raised, and thus businesses should be aware about when is e-way bill mandatory.

In this blog, we will understand about the 2 major scenarios, when e-way bill is required mandatorily, irrespective of the value of the consignment of goods, which are:

• Inter-State movement of goods by the Principal to Job Worker by Principal / Registered Job Worker
• Inter-State movement of handicraft goods from person exempted from registration i.e. from an unregistered dealer

When is e-way bill mandatory?

Inter-State movement of goods by the principal to the job worker by principal / job worker

Let us begin by revisiting our understanding of job work under GST. Job work primarily means the undertaking of any treatment or process by a person on goods belonging to another registered taxable person. It can be undertaken for the initial process, intermediate process, assembly, packing or any other completion process in the manufacturing cycle. Any such person who undertakes the job work is referred to as the job worker.

Now, as per the CGST rules, information with regards to the e-way bill is to be furnished prior to the commencement of the movement of goods, and also, the e-way bill is to be issued whether the movement is in relation to a supply or for a reason other than supply. The reason “other than supply” includes Job Work, removal for testing purpose, send on approval basis, non-taxable supply etc.

Thus, in keeping with the above, the provisions when is e-way bill needed are as follows:

• When goods are sent by a principal located in one State to a job worker in any other State, the e-way bill shall be generated by the principal, irrespective of the value of the consignment, i.e. e-way bill requirement is mandatory
• The principal is liable to generate the e-way bill before commencement of such movement of goods
• If the job worker who causes movement of goods is registered, the job worker has to generate the e-way bill, otherwise the principal has to generate the e-way bill
• If the job worker is registered and goods are returned back to the principal then, the job worker has to generate the e-way bill, since the movement is caused by the job worker
• If the job worker is unregistered, then either the principal or the transporter may generate the e-way bill

Inter-State movement of handicraft goods from person exempted from registration i.e. from an unregistered dealer

When handicraft goods are transported from one State or Union territory to another State or Union territory by a person who has been exempted from the requirement of obtaining registration, i.e. someone who is an unregistered person, the e-way bill shall be generated by the said person irrespective of the value of the consignment. In other words, if such a person dealing in handicraft goods wants to understand when is e-way bill mandatory, the answer is yes, there is a mandatory e-way bill requirement.

The following are the list of handicraft goods for which e-way bill requirement is mandatory, as specified under the e-way bill rules:

• Leather articles (including bags, purses, saddlery, harness, garments)
• Carved wood products (including boxes, inlay work, cases, casks)
• Carved wood products (including table and kitchenware)
• Carved wood products
• Wood turning and lacquer ware
• Bamboo products (decorative and utility items)
• Grass, leaf and reed and fibre products, mats, pouches, wallets
• Paper mache articles
• Textile (handloom products)
• Textiles hand printing
• Zari thread 5605
• Carpet, rugs and durries
• Textiles hand embroidery
• Theatre costumes
• Coir products (including mats, mattresses)
• Leather footwear
• Carved stone products (including statues, statuettes, figures of animals, writing sets, ashtray, candle stand)
• Stones inlay work
• Pottery and clay products, including terracotta
• Metal table and kitchen ware (copper, brass ware)
• Metal statues, images/statues vases, urns and crosses of the type used for decoration of metals
• Metal bidriware
• Musical instruments
• Horn and bone products
• Conch shell crafts
• Bamboo furniture, cane/Rattan furniture
• Dolls and toys
• Folk paintings, madhubani, patchitra, Rajasthani miniature

In conclusion, principal businesses and job workers, as well as unregistered dealers dealing in handicrafts, who are dealing in inter-State supplies, need to be aware about when is e-way bill mandatory and should be equipped to raise an e-way bill irrespective of the value of the transactions.