Freelancer Invoice Template (India / GST)

What this is

An Excel invoice template for Indian freelancers and consultants. It works out GST for you, handles both intra-state (CGST + SGST) and inter-state (IGST) billing, and has a payment tracker tab so you can see who owes you what.

I use this exact template for my own freelance invoices.

What is inside

Tab 1: Invoice

A clean invoice layout with:

• Your business details: name, address, GSTIN, PAN, bank account (fill once, reuse forever)
• Client details: company name, GSTIN, billing address
• Line items: description, HSN/SAC code, quantity, rate, amount
• GST auto-calculation: set the client’s state and the sheet picks CGST+SGST (same state) or IGST (different state)
• Totals: subtotal, GST breakup, grand total in words (auto-generated)
• Payment terms: due date, bank details, UPI ID
• Invoice numbering: auto-incremented format: INV-2026-001

Tab 2: Client directory

A simple CRM-style table to store:

• Client name, company, GSTIN
• Contact email and phone
• State (used for GST type auto-detection)
• Payment terms (Net 15, Net 30, etc.)
• Notes

Pick a client from the dropdown on the Invoice tab and their details fill in automatically.

Tab 3: Payment tracker

Track every invoice you send:

• Invoice number, client, amount, date sent
• Due date (auto-calculated from payment terms)
• Status: Paid / Pending / Overdue
• Payment date and mode
• Rows that turn red automatically once an invoice is past due
• A monthly summary of total invoiced, total received and outstanding

Tab 4: Settings

Configure once:

• Your business name, address, GSTIN, PAN
• Bank account details (name, number, IFSC, branch)
• UPI ID
• Default GST rate (18% standard, editable)
• Invoice prefix and starting number
• Your state (for CGST/SGST vs IGST logic)

GST handling

Intra-state (same state as you)

Subtotal: ₹10,000
CGST @ 9%: ₹900
SGST @ 9%: ₹900
Total: ₹11,800

Inter-state (different state)

Subtotal: ₹10,000
IGST @ 18%: ₹1,800
Total: ₹11,800

The template picks the right one by comparing your state (Settings tab) with the client’s state (Client Directory).

Common SAC codes for freelancers

Code	Service
998361	IT consulting and support
998312	Management consulting
998313	Marketing and advertising consulting
998314	Human resource consulting
998363	Web design and development
998364	Software development
998399	Other professional services

These are pre-filled in a dropdown on the Invoice tab. You can edit them or add more in the Settings tab.

How to use it

1. Open the Settings tab and fill in your business details, GSTIN and bank info.
2. Add your clients in the Client Directory tab.
3. Create an invoice: pick a client from the dropdown, add line items, then print or export to PDF.
4. Log it in the Payment Tracker tab.
5. To follow up, filter the tracker for “Overdue”.

Tips

• Export to PDF before sending (File > Save As > PDF). The print area is already set to A4.
• Keep one copy per financial year by duplicating the file each April. The payment tracker then doubles as your revenue log for tax filing.
• There’s a placeholder cell for your logo in the top-left of the Invoice tab. Use Insert > Image > In Cell.

Who this is for

• Freelance developers, designers, marketers, writers, consultants
• Solopreneurs billing Indian and international clients
• Small agency founders who don’t yet need Zoho/Tally

Version history

Version	Date	Notes
2.0	June 2026	Added Client Directory with auto-fill, payment tracker, IGST support
1.0	January 2026	Basic invoice with GST