HSN and SAC codes on invoices: a freelancer's cheat sheet
Every line on a GST invoice carries a code that tells the tax system exactly what was sold. Leave it off, or get it wrong, and you create friction for your client's input credit and your own returns. For freelancers, the code you need is almost always a SAC.
HSN vs SAC — what's the difference?
HSN (Harmonised System of Nomenclature) codes classify *goods*. SAC (Services Accounting Code) codes classify *services*. If you bill for design, development, consulting, or writing, you're supplying a service — so you use a SAC, not an HSN.
Finding the right SAC family
SAC codes are grouped by the kind of service — IT and software, design, advertising, training, professional consulting, and so on. Pick the one that genuinely matches your work; when you offer a few distinct services, each gets its own code.
When in doubt, confirm it
Codes and rates change. If you're unsure which SAC applies to your service, confirm with a tax professional once — then reuse it everywhere.
Where the code goes
The SAC sits on each invoice line beside the description, alongside the GST rate. Most freelance services attract 18% GST, but it's the code — not the rate — that identifies what you supplied.
Stop typing it every time
E-BillR's reusable items catalog stores the description, SAC, rate, and GST slab per service. Set each one up once and the correct code autofills on every future invoice — no lookups, no copy-paste errors.
GST-correct invoices in minutes — every feature, free.
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