Contractor Invoice Template India — Labour & Construction Invoice Format 2026
Contractors, labour suppliers, and construction businesses — here's the complete guide to creating a GST-compliant contractor invoice in India, with the right SAC codes, GST rates for construction services, and a free invoice tool built for the trade.
Creating a proper contractor invoice in India is more nuanced than a standard service invoice. Construction and labour billing involves multiple line items (materials + labour), different GST rates depending on the type of contract and the client, reverse charge considerations, and specific SAC codes for construction services. Getting these right matters — both for your clients' ITC claims and for your own GST filing.
Whether you're a civil contractor building a residential apartment, an electrical contractor doing commercial wiring, a labour contractor supplying workers to a site, or a small contractor doing renovation work — this guide covers the exact contractor invoice format India requires in 2026.
GST Rates for Contractor and Construction Services India
GST on construction and contractor services depends on the type of work, the nature of the contract (works contract vs. pure labour), and who the client is. Here's a comprehensive rate table:
| Service Type | GST Rate | SAC Code | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Construction of residential apartments (affordable housing) | 1% | 995411 | No ITC; for EWS/LIG/PMAY projects |
| Construction of other residential apartments | 5% | 995411 | No ITC allowed |
| Construction of commercial buildings (for sale) | 12% | 995411 | With ITC available |
| Works contract — general civil construction | 18% | 995411 | Most general construction contracts |
| Sub-contractor to main contractor | 18% | 995411 | Rate same as main contract |
| Repair & maintenance of buildings | 18% | 995479 | Renovation, repairs, retrofitting |
| Electrical installation / wiring | 18% | 995469 | Commercial or residential |
| Plumbing work | 18% | 995469 | Water supply, drainage fitting |
| Painting / interior decoration | 18% | 995469 | House painting, interior work |
| Labour supply / manpower services | 18% | 998516 | Supply of labour to contractor |
| Demolition services | 18% | 995439 | Building demolition |
| Site preparation / excavation | 18% | 995431 | Earthwork, soil excavation |
Works Contract vs Pure Service Contract
A works contract involves both goods (materials) and services combined — e.g., supply and installation of tiles. Pure service contracts involve only labour and no materials. This distinction affects GST treatment and whether ITC on inputs can be claimed. Always specify in your invoice whether it's a works contract or pure service.
What to Include in a Contractor Invoice in India
- 1Header: 'Tax Invoice' (if GST registered) — prominently at the top
- 2Contractor's name, address, and GSTIN
- 3Invoice number — sequential (e.g., CONT-2026-0045)
- 4Invoice date and payment due date
- 5Client's name, address, and GSTIN (for B2B construction clients)
- 6Project description — project name and address of the construction site
- 7Work order number or purchase order reference (if applicable)
- 8Itemised work details — description of each work component completed
- 9Materials supplied separately (if works contract) — with HSN codes and GST rates
- 10Labour / service charges — with SAC code (995411 or 998516) and GST rate
- 11Percentage of work completed (for stage-based billing / RA bills)
- 12CGST and SGST (or IGST) amounts shown separately
- 13Retention amount if applicable (typically 5–10% held by client)
- 14Total amount payable after retention
- 15Bank account details with IFSC code for payment
- 16Contractor's signature and stamp
RA Bill vs Standard Invoice — What Contractors Need to Know
RA Bill (Running Account Bill) is a construction industry term for a progressive invoice — billing for a portion of the work completed so far rather than waiting until project completion. RA bills are common for large civil and infrastructure projects. For GST purposes, an RA bill is treated as a regular tax invoice and must include all the same mandatory fields.
- RA Bill must still include your GSTIN, SAC code, CGST/SGST, and all mandatory fields.
- State clearly: 'Running Account Bill No. 3 — Work completed up to [date]'.
- Show cumulative value billed to date and current bill amount separately.
- If retention is deducted, show the deduction clearly: 'Less: Retention 10% = ₹X'.
- The full GST (including on retained amount) is payable on issuance of the invoice, not on release of retention.
Labour Invoice Format India — Key Differences
A pure labour invoice (supplying workers/manpower to a construction site) is different from a civil works invoice. Labour contractors supplying manpower use SAC code 998516 and charge 18% GST. Important: if the labour contractor is unregistered and the service receiver is a GST-registered business, the Reverse Charge Mechanism (RCM) may apply.
| Labour Invoice Component | Details |
|---|---|
| SAC Code | 998516 — Support services for labour supply |
| GST Rate | 18% (CGST 9% + SGST 9%) |
| Number of Workers | State clearly: e.g., '15 workers × 26 days × ₹600/day' |
| Type of Labour | Skilled / semi-skilled / unskilled — describe the work |
| Deductions | ESI, PF if applicable — show clearly |
| RCM Applicability | If unregistered supplier → recipient pays GST under RCM |
Contractor Invoice Example Calculation
| Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Civil construction work — Bldg A, Phase 2 (RA Bill No. 4) | ₹5,00,000 |
| CGST @ 9% (SAC 995411) | ₹45,000 |
| SGST @ 9% (SAC 995411) | ₹45,000 |
| Gross Invoice Amount | ₹5,90,000 |
| Less: Retention @ 5% | −₹29,500 |
| Net Amount Payable Now | ₹5,60,500 |
How to Create a Contractor Invoice Free Using Ozydo
- 1Open Ozydo.com on your phone or laptop — no download, no credit card.
- 2In Settings, add your contractor business name, address, and GSTIN.
- 3Tap 'New Invoice' — auto-assigns an invoice number.
- 4Add client details — company name, address, GSTIN, and project site address in notes.
- 5Add line items: e.g., 'Civil Construction Work — RA Bill 4 — Bldg A Phase 2'.
- 6Set the GST rate to 18% — CGST 9% and SGST 9% are calculated automatically.
- 7Add SAC code 995411 (or 998516 for labour supply) in the item description.
- 8Add any deductions (retention) in a separate line item as a negative amount.
- 9Include your bank account and IFSC code for payment.
- 10Download as PDF and share on WhatsApp with your client. Clean, professional, GST-compliant.
Create Free Contractor Invoice Now
Ozydo makes GST-compliant contractor and labour invoices in seconds. Auto-calculates CGST/SGST, supports works contracts and RA bills, and sends PDF on WhatsApp — completely free.
Create Free Invoice Now →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the GST rate for a contractor in India?
Most general construction and works contract services attract 18% GST (SAC 995411). Residential apartment construction attracts 5% (no ITC) or 1% for affordable housing. Repair and maintenance services are 18%. Labour supply (manpower) is 18% with SAC code 998516.
What SAC code should a contractor use in India?
For general civil construction and works contracts, use SAC 995411. For repair and maintenance of buildings, use 995479. For electrical installation work, use 995469. For pure labour supply (manpower), use 998516. Always include the SAC code on your GST invoice.
Is reverse charge applicable on contractor services?
RCM (Reverse Charge Mechanism) applies when an unregistered contractor provides services to a GST-registered business. In such cases, the registered business (service receiver) pays the GST directly to the government instead of the contractor. Registered contractors charge GST normally under Forward Charge.
How do I make a contractor bill with GST on my phone?
Use Ozydo — open Ozydo.com in your phone browser, add your contractor business details and GSTIN, create a new invoice with the work description and SAC code 995411, set 18% GST rate (CGST + SGST auto-calculated), add retention deduction if needed, and share the PDF on WhatsApp. Completely free.
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Written by the Ozydo Team
Ozydo is India's simplest free GST invoice app for small businesses and freelancers. We write practical guides on invoicing, GST, and business finance to help you get paid faster.
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