E-Way Bill Generation Through SMS: Registration, Features & Benefits

You need an e-way bill document mandatorily for transporting goods valued over ₹50000. In India, there are many small taxpayers who are not very tech-savvy and therefore struggle to generate this bill.

To simplify this application process, the Ministry of Finance introduced E-Way Bill generation through the SMS facility. You can use this process in emergency cases like during the night or if there is an urgent need for moving a good.

In this article, you will learn in detail how to register and cancel an e-way bill through SMS mode and other relevant details.

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If you want to generate an e-way bill through SMS, it should satisfy the following conditions:

• You must register your mobile number on the e-way bill portal for the SMS facility.
• The GST number should be linked with your registered mobile number.
• When sending an SMS, you need to provide complete and accurate details in order to avoid wrong e-way bill generation.
• The document/invoice date must not be older than 180 days (i.e., only documents within 180 days from the date of SMS generation are eligible for e-way bill generation). This restriction takes effect on 1 January 2025. 
• The total extension of validity for any e-way bill is capped at 360 days from the original generation date.

Note: Because of these newer constraints, SMS mode might not always work for older invoices or long-duration shipments.

You can generate an E-Way Bill via mobile using SMS. A text message is to be sent on the mobile number 7738299899 and you should also ensure that there is a space next to each parameter. You have to follow the below format for sending a message:

EWBG TranType RecGSTIN DelPinCode InvNo InvDate TotalValue HSNCode ApprDist Vehicle

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To complete E-Way Bill generation through SMS, you need to follow the below steps:

Step 1: Visit the E-Way Bill portal and log in to your account.

Step 2: Click on “Registration”, which appears on the left corner of the dashboard.

Step 3: Select the “For SMS” option from the menu.

Step 4: Enter your registered mobile number displayed on the screen.

Step 5: Select “Send OTP”

Step 6: After receiving the OTP, type it in the “Enter OTP” box.

Step 7: Next, “Verify OTP” and click “Exit”

Step 8: After exiting, you will see all User Ids on the screen.

Step 9: Select the User ID from the menu and your mobile number will be auto-populated.

Step 10: Click on the “Submit” option, and your E-Way Bill will be generated via SMS mode.

You should note that you can register at least two mobile numbers against a single GST Identification Number.

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You can cancel an e-way bill easily and conveniently by sending an SMS to 7738299899. To cancel, send the code “EWBC EWB_NO” within 24 hours of the e-way bill generation. Each parameter provides the following details:

1. EWBC - E-Way Bill Code for cancellation

2. EWB_NO - 12-digit E-Way Bill Number

After sending the SMS, you will receive a text message on your registered phone number confirming the cancellation of the bill. However, you should note that once an e-way bill is verified after generation, you cannot cancel it.

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By generating and cancelling an e-way bill via SMS you can avail the following benefits:

• Cost Effective - SMS mode is a cost-effective way as it does not require any additional hardware or software.
• Easily Accessible - Since mobile phones can be accessed easily by anyone, SMS mode is better for those who do not have access to the internet or a computer.
• Reduced Errors - SMS mode reduces the chances of errors in the e-way bill generation process as it eliminates the need for manual data entry.

In conclusion, the facility of e-way bill generation through SMS has simplified the process for suppliers and transporters. This method is ideal for those suppliers and transporters who want to start investing in an expensive technological setup. The platform is also efficient in handling limited transactions.