GST Billing Software for Restaurants in India: The Complete Guide
GST for restaurants sounds complicated, but the day-to-day is simple once your billing software handles it correctly. Here's what the law expects on a restaurant bill — and how to make it automatic.
This guide is general information, not tax advice. GST rates, thresholds and conditions change — always confirm specifics with a qualified chartered accountant for your business.
What GST rate applies to restaurant food?
For most standalone restaurants in India, food and beverage service is taxed at 5% GST — split as 2.5% CGST + 2.5% SGST — without input tax credit (ITC). Restaurants located within specified hotels (where room tariff crosses the notified threshold), and certain other categories, can attract 18% GST with ITC. Because the conditions shift, treat the rate as a setting your software should let you configure, not something hard-coded.
CGST + SGST vs IGST
For a dine-in bill, the supply happens within your state, so GST splits into CGST + SGST. IGST only applies to inter-state supplies — rare for dine-in, but relevant for some B2B or delivery scenarios. Good billing software decides this automatically from the place of supply.
What a compliant restaurant tax invoice must show
A GST tax invoice for a restaurant should include:
- Your legal name and GSTIN
- A unique invoice number and date
- Item description and quantity
- Taxable value (before tax)
- The GST rate and the CGST/SGST (or IGST) amounts shown separately
- The invoice total
- HSN/SAC where applicable (restaurant service commonly uses SAC 9963)
Doing this by hand is error-prone. The point of GST billing software is that every bill comes out correct, numbered in sequence, and ready for your GSTR filings.
What good GST billing software does for you
| Task | Manual / spreadsheet | With NamastePOS |
|---|---|---|
| Tax split (CGST/SGST/IGST) | Calculated by hand | Automatic from place of supply |
| Invoice numbering | Easy to duplicate/skip | Sequential, gap-free |
| e-Invoice readiness | Separate tool | Built in |
| GSTR-1 / 3B data | Re-keyed monthly | Exported from reports |
| Works offline | — | Yes, syncs later |
Do restaurants need e-invoicing?
E-invoicing — generating an IRN (Invoice Reference Number) from the government portal — becomes mandatory once your aggregate turnover crosses the notified threshold. Even if you're under it today, choosing e-invoice-ready software means you won't have to switch systems the moment you grow past the limit.
GST-ready billing, out of the box
NamastePOS generates compliant CGST/SGST tax invoices, is e-invoice ready, and exports your GSTR data — on a phone, even offline. Start free.
Start free — ₹0A simple monthly GST routine
- Bill every order through your POS so tax is captured correctly at source.
- At month-end, export the GST/GSTR summary from reports.
- Hand it to your CA (or upload to the portal) for GSTR-1 and 3B.
- Keep digital copies of invoices — your POS stores them automatically.
That's the whole loop. The heavy lifting happens once, at billing time, so filing is mostly review-and-submit.