Frequently asked questions.
The 20 questions we get most often from SMBs evaluating 21bill. If your question isn't here, email us — we reply the same day.
Pricing & plans
How much does 21bill cost?
21bill is an invite-only, closed-tenant platform — pricing is agreed directly with each organisation we onboard. There is no public self-signup or per-seat list price. Contact us to request access and discuss commercial terms for your team.
Is there a free trial?
No public free trial. 21bill is invite-only — each tenant is provisioned by our team after an onboarding conversation. If you would like to evaluate the platform, request access via the contact page and we will set up a guided walkthrough.
Do you charge extra for GSTR filing?
No. GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B JSON downloads are included in every plan, including the ₹99 tier. You upload the JSON to gst.gov.in yourself — no CA round-trip for routine months.
Invoicing & billing
How fast can I create an invoice?
Under 2 minutes for a new customer (because you have to type their GSTIN and address once). Under 30 seconds for a repeat customer — pick them from the combobox, add line items, save.
Does 21bill handle quotations and proforma invoices?
Yes. Both are first-class documents separate from tax invoices. Convert a quotation to an invoice with one click once the customer accepts. Proforma invoices are marked "Proforma — not a tax invoice" on the PDF so they don't create GST liability until you issue the real invoice.
Can I edit a sent invoice?
No — and that is by design. GST invoices are legally immutable once issued. If you need to correct a sent invoice, issue a credit note (reduces the original) or a debit note (adds to it). The DB enforces this with a trigger that blocks any mutation to an invoice once its status is past draft.
GST compliance
Does 21bill emit a GSTR-1 JSON that uploads to gst.gov.in?
Yes. The exporter produces the exact JSON schema the GST portal accepts for all 5 sections — B2B, B2CS, CDNR, HSN summary, document summary. Upload directly; no CSV conversion step.
How does CGST/SGST/IGST split work automatically?
Your organisation has a state code. Each invoice has a place-of-supply (defaults from customer but editable per invoice). If the two match: CGST + SGST at half the rate each. If they differ: IGST at the full rate. No manual tax label work.
What about input tax credit from vendor bills?
Record vendor bills in the Purchases module with full CGST/SGST/IGST split. ITC aggregates automatically into GSTR-3B Section 4(A) on the monthly preview. Without this step, your GSTR-3B over-reports your liability.
Does 21bill support e-invoicing (IRN + QR)?
Not natively. If your aggregate turnover crosses ₹5 Cr, you need Invoice Registration Portal (IRP) integration via a GSP like ClearTax or Masters India. We pair with GSPs but do not ship native IRP support — we are built for the 99% of Indian SMBs below the threshold. Email us if you are approaching ₹5 Cr and we will tell you honestly whether to stay or switch.
Does 21bill support composition scheme (Bill of Supply)?
Yes. Toggle the composition flag on the organisation and every invoice becomes a Bill of Supply — GST rate is hidden on the PDF, the statutory "not eligible to collect tax" declaration is auto-appended, and the document is labelled correctly. CMP-08 quarterly summary is on the roadmap.
Where do I find the right HSN / SAC code?
Use our HSN directory. 22+ of the most-searched codes for Indian SMBs, each with current GST rate, UQC, and common FAQs. Also filterable by trade category (food, fmcg, textile, apparel, services).
Users & roles
Can I add my accountant or employees?
Yes on the Business tier (₹299/month). Up to 5 users with role-based access — admin, manager, billing, sales, viewer. Each role has a specific sidebar and different edit permissions. Every destructive action goes into an audit log.
Can I log in from different devices?
Yes. 21bill runs in the browser — log in from phone, laptop, tablet, CA's office computer. All devices share the same cloud data in real time. No per-device licence, no "data stuck on one laptop" problem.
Data & export
Can I export my data if I cancel?
Yes, any time. Every table (invoices, customers, products, purchases, payments, credit notes, quotations) exports as CSV from its list page. All invoice PDFs re-download. All GSTR JSONs re-download for the last 12 months. We will not hold your data hostage.
Is there an audit trail?
Yes. Every GSTR filing download is logged with SHA-256 hash of the file bytes + downloader + timestamp. Every invoice / company / contact / purchase mutation goes into a security audit trigger. If there is ever a GST scrutiny notice, you can show exactly what you filed on what date.
Platform & integrations
Do I need to install anything?
No. 21bill runs entirely in the browser. No Windows-only desktop install, no mobile app install required. Works on Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge. A PWA lets you "add to home screen" on phone if you want an app-like icon.
Is there a public API?
Yes. REST API documented at /developers — same APIs the web app uses. Useful for connecting your Shopify / WooCommerce / Razorpay / custom tooling. Bearer-token auth, rate-limited, sandbox environment for testing.
Is 21bill available in Hindi?
The product UI is English-first today. Hinglish (Roman-script Hindi) blog content exists for key topics — see the Hindi tag on the blog. Full Devanagari Hindi UI + Tamil / Marathi / Kannada / Gujarati UIs are on the 2026 roadmap.
How do I actually get help?
Email [email protected] during business hours (9am-7pm IST, Mon-Fri). Priority support is 4-hour SLA on the Business tier. For questions before signing up, the contact page has a direct phone line.