What is irn number?

IRN stands for Invoice Reference Number. It is a unique number assigned by the Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN) to each document uploaded on the GST portal as per the new invoicing system under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime in India. The IRN is a unique identifier that contains 64 alphanumeric characters and is generated by the GST system after verifying the authenticity of the invoice.

The purpose of IRN is to ensure that each invoice is unique and that there are no duplicates. An IRN number is generated for each invoice uploaded on the GST portal, and it is mandatory to include it on each invoice for it to be considered valid under the GST law.

The IRN number is generated by the GST System using a unique IRN algorithm, which takes into consideration various parameters, including the GSTIN of the supplier and the recipient, date of invoice, and invoice number. It ensures that the same IRN is not generated for two different invoices.

Overall, the IRN number makes the invoicing process more streamlined, efficient, and free from errors, thus making it easier for businesses to comply with GST regulations.