The Goods and Service Tax Network (GSTN) has issued the advisory on alternate mechanisms and business continuity plans available for e-invoice, e-waybill systems.
If you have not integrated these alternate mechanisms into your existing systems or are not currently utilising them, GSTN suggest coordinating with your system integrators, IRPs, ERPs, GSPs, or ASPs to enable these redundancies. This would ensure that these mechanisms are fully operational and accessible when needed.
Multi IRPs for e-Invoice Reporting
To provide redundancy and ensure continuity, six Invoice Registration Portals (IRPs) are operational:
1. NIC-IRP 1: https://www.einvoice1.gst.gov.in
2. NIC-IRP 2: https://www.einvoice2.gst.gov.in
3. Cygnet IRP: https://einvoice3.gst.gov.in
4. Clear IRP: https://einvoice4.gst.gov.in
5. EY IRP: https://einvoice5.gst.gov.in
6. IRIS IRP: https://einvoice6.gst.gov.in
Both NIC-IRP 1 & 2 portals are interoperable, allowing seamless switch-over between them during service disruptions. These features may be tested in the NIC sandbox environment that can be accessed at https://einv-apisandbox.nic.in/. Additionally, if NIC-IRP is down any of the other e-Invoice IRPs listed above could also be used.
Dual Portals for e-Waybill Services
Similar redundancy is provided for e-Waybill operations with two portals:
1. eWaybill1 (https://ewaybillgst.gov.in)
2. eWaybill2(https://ewaybill2.gst.gov.in)
Unified Authentication Token at NIC-IRP & e-Waybill Portal
A single authentication token can be generated from any of the NIC-IRP e-Invoice1 & e-Invoice2 and NIC: e-Waybill1& e-Waybill2.
Once generated, this token is valid across all NIC portals, eliminating the need for separate tokens for each platform.
API Interoperability for Seamless Operations
Taxpayers using APIs can take advantage of cross-portal operations by configuring their systems or ensuring this with respective solution provider accordingly:
i. Accessing NIC1 e-Invoice Services via NIC2 APIs: By passing “NIC1” value in “irp” API header for APIs at https://api.einvoice2.gst.gov.in
ii. Accessing NIC2 e-Invoice Services via NIC1 APIs: By passing “NIC2” value in “irp” API header for APIs at https://api.einvoice1.gst.gov.in
iii. Supported e-Invoice APIs for cross operation-
a. Get IRN Details
b. Cancel IRN
c. Get IRN Details by Doc. Details
d. Generate e-Waybill by IRN
e. Get e-Waybill details by IRN
iv. For e-way bill cross operation, currently 1) Get e-way bill details & 2) Part B update APIs are available to be used interoperable via https://api.ewaybillgst.gov.in & https://api.ewaybill2.gst.gov.in/
Actions Recommended for Taxpayer
1. Direct API Access: Verify that your systems support cross-portal interoperability for seamless service access.
2. Coordination with Service Providers: Engage with your IRP, ERPs, GSPs, or ASPs to ensure alternate mechanisms are enabled and fully integrated into your systems.
3. Explore Additional IRPs: In addition to NIC-IRP 1 & 2, other IRPs are also available for use.
This advisory is issued to ensure that taxpayers are connected with the necessary backup to maintain seamless operations during any service disruptions. For further assistance, please contact your system integrators, service providers, or the GST helpdesk. More details available at respective IRPs and e-waybill portal.
