A GST-compliant restaurant bill in India must show your restaurant name, address and GSTIN, an itemised list of food and drinks, the GST split (CGST + SGST), and the final total. Get those right and the bill is valid for the customer, for reimbursement, and for your own GSTR-1 filing. This guide gives you the exact format, a filled sample, and a free way to make one in two minutes — and if you just want the underlying rules, see our GST bill mandatory-fields checklist.
Quick answer: what a restaurant bill must include
- Restaurant name, address, and contact number
- GSTIN (15 digits) if you are GST-registered
- Unique, sequential invoice number and date
- Table number / order type (dine-in, takeaway, delivery)
- Itemised food list with quantity and rate
- Subtotal, CGST + SGST, optional service charge
- Grand total and payment mode
Mandatory fields (and why each one matters)
| Field | Example | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurant name & logo | Spice Garden Family Restaurant | Brand identity; required on a tax invoice |
| Address | 14 MG Road, Pune, Maharashtra 411001 | Establishes place of supply for GST |
| GSTIN | 27AABCS1429B1Z9 | Legally mandatory for registered businesses; lets the customer claim ITC |
| Invoice number | INV-2026-00471 | Must be unique and sequential for GSTR-1 |
| Date & time | 01 Jun 2026, 8:42 PM | Required for the tax period |
| Item, qty, rate | Paneer Butter Masala × 1 @ ₹320 | Transparency; basis for tax calculation |
| CGST & SGST | 2.5% + 2.5% | The legally required tax split for intra-state supply |
| Grand total | ₹756.00 | The amount actually payable |
| Payment mode | UPI / Card / Cash | Record-keeping and reconciliation |
Sample restaurant bill (filled example)
Spice Garden Family Restaurant 14 MG Road, Pune, Maharashtra 411001 · GSTIN: 27AABCS1429B1Z9 Invoice: INV-2026-00471 · Date: 01 Jun 2026 · Table: 7 (Dine-in)
| Item | Qty | Rate (₹) | Amount (₹) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paneer Butter Masala | 1 | 320.00 | 320.00 |
| Butter Naan | 4 | 45.00 | 180.00 |
| Masala Papad | 2 | 50.00 | 100.00 |
| Sweet Lassi | 2 | 60.00 | 120.00 |
| Subtotal | 720.00 | ||
| CGST @ 2.5% | 18.00 | ||
| SGST @ 2.5% | 18.00 | ||
| Grand Total | 756.00 |
Payment: UPI · Thank you, visit again!
GST rates for restaurants (FY 2025–26)
Getting the rate right is where most bills go wrong:
- 5% GST (2.5% CGST + 2.5% SGST) — standalone restaurants, AC and non-AC, dine-in and takeaway. No input tax credit is available at this rate.
- 18% GST — restaurants located inside a hotel where the room tariff is above ₹7,500 per night. Input tax credit is allowed.
- CGST + SGST apply when the customer is in the same state (almost always the case for dining). IGST applies only for inter-state supply, such as outstation catering.
For the full slab logic — packaged vs prepared food, delivery apps, and the AC/non-AC history — see GST rates on restaurant food. If you want to verify a total by hand, our guide to calculating GST on a bill walks through the arithmetic.
Service charge ≠ GST. Service charge is voluntary for the customer (per the CCPA guidelines, 2022(opens in new tab)). If charged, show it as a separate line — never disguise it as a tax.
GST rates and slabs above follow the CBIC GST rate notifications(opens in new tab). Always confirm your current slab, as rates can change in the GST Council meetings.
How to create a GST restaurant bill in 2 minutes
You do not need accounting software for a single bill. Using the restaurant bill generator:
- Pick a restaurant template that already lays out the GST fields.
- Enter your business details — name, address, and GSTIN (saved for next time).
- Add menu items with quantity and rate; the tool computes CGST + SGST automatically.
- Set table number and payment mode for a complete dine-in record.
- Download a clean PDF ready to print or send on WhatsApp.
Online generator vs Word vs Excel
| Online generator | MS Word | Excel | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GST auto-calculation | Yes Automatic | No Manual | Partial Formula needed |
| Time per bill | ~2 min | 10–15 min | 5–10 min |
| Error risk | Low | High | Medium |
| Sequential invoice no. | Yes | No | Partial |
| Professional PDF | Yes | Partial | No |
| Cost | Free | Free | Free |
Common mistakes to avoid
- Printing an old or invalid GSTIN — customers can't claim ITC and you risk penalties.
- Charging 18% when 5% applies (or vice-versa) — know which slab you fall in.
- Repeating or skipping invoice numbers — breaks your GSTR-1 trail.
- Hiding service charge inside the tax line — this is non-compliant.
- Forgetting date and table/order type, which reimbursement teams often require.
Sources & references
- CBIC GST Portal(opens in new tab) — official GST rates and tax invoice rules
- Department of Consumer Affairs (CCPA)(opens in new tab) — service charge guidelines
- GST Council(opens in new tab) — rate change notifications
Ready to issue a compliant bill right now? Create a restaurant bill free → — no sign-up, instant PDF.