GST on printing: what rate applies to what

The rates in practice

Common categories and the rates that generally apply.

• Printed matter such as cards, brochures and letterheads — HSN 4911, generally 12%.
• Printed apparel — HSN 6109, generally 5% below the value threshold.
• PVC and vinyl products including banners — HSN 3921, generally 18%.
• Ceramic drinkware — HSN 6912, generally 12%.
• Self-adhesive labels — HSN 4821, generally 18%.

Claiming input credit

To claim, your GSTIN must be on the invoice, the invoice must carry the correct HSN per line, and the supply must be for business use. Add your GSTIN at checkout rather than afterwards — amending an issued invoice is far more trouble than entering it at the right moment.

The specifications this applies to

For reference, here is how it works out on the products this comes up on most often.

• Standard Visiting Cards — 89 × 51 mm finished, 3 mm bleed, 300 DPI minimum, from ₹2 per unit with a minimum of 100.
• Round Neck T-Shirts — 210 × 297 mm finished, 0 mm bleed, 300 DPI minimum, from ₹320 per unit with a minimum of 10.
• Vinyl Banners — 305 × 305 mm finished, 25 mm bleed, 100 DPI minimum, from ₹40 per unit with a minimum of 10.

Ordering

Every file is checked automatically before printing, so a mistake in any of this is caught while it can still be corrected rather than after a run is on paper.

Standard delivery is free to every PIN code in India — two working days to a metro, up to twelve to the islands — and prices include GST, so the figure on the product page is the figure charged. Add a GSTIN at checkout and the invoice carries it for input credit.

Keeping the paperwork straight

Every order here produces a GST invoice automatically, carrying a consecutive invoice number, the HSN per line and the tax split by rate, so it stands up to an assessment without further work.

Add your GSTIN at checkout rather than afterwards. Amending an issued invoice is considerably more trouble than entering fifteen characters at the right moment, and until it is amended the input credit is not claimable.