Vyapar handles GST well once configured, and badly if the tax settings are wrong — and wrong tax settings are not obvious until a return does not reconcile. This walks through the setup in the order that avoids rework, with the specific settings Indian businesses most often get wrong. Budget about an hour for a shop with a modest item list.
Steps
Enter business details and GSTIN: Set your legal business name exactly as registered, your GSTIN, address and state. State matters more than it appears — it determines whether Vyapar applies CGST plus SGST or IGST on each invoice, and getting it wrong misstates every bill you raise.
Turn on GST and set your scheme: Enable GST, then select regular or composition scheme correctly. Composition dealers cannot charge GST on invoices and have different return obligations, so this single setting changes what your invoices are allowed to say.
Set up tax rates: Configure the GST slabs you actually use — commonly 0%, 5%, 12%, 18% and 28%. Set them once at company level rather than per item, so a rate change later is one edit instead of hundreds.
Add items with HSN codes and correct rates: Every item needs an HSN or SAC code and its GST rate. This is the step that decides whether your GSTR-1 reconciles. If you are unsure of an HSN code, check it rather than guessing — a wrong code is tedious to correct once invoices exist against it.
Configure the invoice series: Set an invoice numbering series that is unbroken and sequential for the financial year. If you are switching from another system, continue the existing sequence rather than restarting. Separate series for different branches or invoice types is fine, as long as each is itself unbroken.
Set the invoice format: Add your logo, terms, bank details and UPI ID. Confirm the printed invoice shows everything a GST tax invoice requires — your GSTIN, the customer GSTIN for B2B, HSN codes, tax split by CGST/SGST/IGST, and the amount in words.
Enable e-invoicing and e-way bill if applicable: E-invoicing applies above the prevailing turnover threshold, and e-way bills apply to goods movements above the value threshold. Both thresholds change periodically — confirm the current limits for your turnover rather than relying on a figure you remember.
Raise a test invoice and check the reports: Create one B2B and one B2C invoice, then open the GSTR-1 report and confirm both appear correctly with the right tax split. Finding a configuration error on a test invoice takes minutes; finding it at filing takes a day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Vyapar file GST returns automatically?
No, and no billing software should be assumed to. Vyapar prepares GST-compliant invoices and generates the reports needed for GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B; you or your accountant file those on the GST portal. That split is normal and appropriate — the software gets your data right, a person confirms and files it.
How do I add HSN codes in Vyapar?
HSN or SAC code is a field on each item, entered when you create or edit it. Set it alongside the GST rate at the point you add the item, because retrofitting codes across an existing item list is slow. If you are importing items from another system, include HSN and rate columns in the import file.
Can Vyapar generate e-way bills?
Yes, Vyapar supports e-way bill generation for goods movements above the applicable value threshold. You will need your e-way bill portal credentials configured. Check the current threshold for your state and consignment type, since limits differ for intra-state and inter-state movement.
What is the most common GST setup mistake in Vyapar?
Setting the wrong state on the business profile. It silently determines whether invoices carry CGST plus SGST or IGST, and an error there misstates the tax on every bill until someone notices at filing. Check it first, and verify on a test invoice to a customer in your own state and one outside it.
We supply Vyapar with INR billing and a GST invoice, plus setup and data migration. WhatsApp +91 98119 98370.