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Glossary

GST & accounting terms, in plain English.

A quick reference for the GST and accounting terms that show up when you run a small business in India — each with a one-line answer, a full definition, and how it connects to the others.

Definitions

GST
India’s single, nationwide indirect tax on the supply of goods and services.
Full definition

Goods and Services Tax — India’s unified indirect tax on the supply of goods and services, replacing most earlier central and state taxes with a single multi-stage, destination-based tax.

Related: GSTR-1 GSTR-3B E-invoice E-way bill
GST accounting in Nidhi Books
GSTR-1
The GST return that reports your outward supplies (sales).
Full definition

A monthly or quarterly GST return that reports all outward supplies (sales) made by a registered business in India.

Related: GST GSTR-3B E-invoice
File GSTR-1 with Nidhi Books
GSTR-3B
The monthly summary return where you declare sales, input tax credit and net GST payable.
Full definition

A monthly self-declared summary GST return reporting total sales, input tax credit and net GST payable.

Related: GST GSTR-1 TDS
File GSTR-3B with Nidhi Books
E-invoice
A B2B invoice validated on the government IRP portal, stamped with an IRN and QR code.
Full definition

An electronic invoice that, under India’s GST regime, is validated on the government IRP portal and assigned an IRN and QR code; mandatory for B2B invoices above a turnover threshold.

Related: GST GSTR-1 E-way bill
Best GST e-invoicing software
E-way bill
The electronic document required to move goods above a value threshold under GST.
Full definition

An electronic document required under India’s GST regime for the movement of goods above a value threshold, generated on the e-way bill portal.

Related: GST E-invoice
Manage stock & e-way bills in Nidhi Inventory
TDS
Tax withheld at the time of payment and deposited with the government on the payee’s behalf.
Full definition

Tax Deducted at Source — tax withheld by a payer at the time of certain payments and deposited with the government on the payee’s behalf.

Related: GST GSTR-3B
Track TDS in Nidhi Books
FAQ

GST glossary FAQs

What is the difference between GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B? +
GSTR-1 is a detailed return of your outward supplies (every sales invoice), while GSTR-3B is a summary return where you self-declare total sales, claim input tax credit, and pay the net GST due. Most businesses file GSTR-1 first, then GSTR-3B for the same period.
When is an e-invoice mandatory under GST? +
E-invoicing is mandatory for B2B invoices once a business crosses the government turnover threshold. The invoice must be reported to the Invoice Registration Portal (IRP), which returns an IRN and a signed QR code that must appear on the invoice.
Is an e-way bill the same as an e-invoice? +
No. An e-invoice authenticates a B2B invoice on the IRP portal, whereas an e-way bill authorises the physical movement of goods above a value threshold. A single consignment can require both, and e-invoice data can auto-populate the e-way bill.
How is TDS different from GST? +
GST is an indirect tax on the supply of goods and services. TDS (Tax Deducted at Source) is a mechanism for collecting income tax: the payer withholds a portion of certain payments and deposits it with the government on the payee’s behalf. There is also a separate TDS-under-GST provision for specific notified deductors.
Does 399apps software handle GST returns, e-invoices and e-way bills? +
Yes. Nidhi Books, the GST accounting app on 399apps, generates GST-ready invoices and the data you need for GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B, and supports e-invoice and e-way bill workflows — starting at ₹399/month for your first app.
GST-ready software

Stop looking up GST terms — let the software handle them.

Nidhi Books generates GST-ready invoices, e-invoices, e-way bills and the data for GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B. From ₹399/month for your first app.

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