Date: 17th December 2024
Dear Taxpayers,
We are happy to announce that the National Informatics Centre (NIC) will be launching updated versions of the E-Way Bill and E-Invoice systems starting from 1st January 2025. These updates are designed to improve the security and functionality of the portals, in line with best practices and government recommendations. Please take note of the key changes outlined below:
1. Mandatory Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
As part of enhancing security, Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) will be introduced for accessing the E-Way Bill and E-Invoice portals. Currently, MFA is required for taxpayers with an Annual Aggregate Turnover (AATO) exceeding Rs 100 Crores (since 20th August 2023), and it is optional for taxpayers with AATO over Rs 20 Crores (since 11th September 2023).
Key Updates:
- From 1st January 2025, MFA will be mandatory for taxpayers with AATO above Rs 20 Crores.
- From 1st February 2025, MFA will be mandatory for taxpayers with AATO over Rs 5 Crores.
- From 1st April 2025, MFA will be required for all other taxpayers and users.
We strongly recommend that you activate MFA immediately. Instructions for setting up MFA are available on both the E-Invoice and E-Way Bill portals. Please ensure that your registered mobile number is up-to-date for receiving OTPs.
2. New Time Limit for E-Way Bill Generation
Starting 1st January 2025, the generation of E-Way Bills will be limited to documents that are dated within 180 days of the E-Way Bill generation. This means:
- Documents dated before 5th July 2024 will not be eligible for E-Way Bill generation starting 1st January 2025.
Please ensure that all relevant documents are within the valid time frame for generating E-Way Bills.
3. Limits on Extending E-Way Bills
The extension period for E-Way Bills will now be restricted to 360 days from the original date of generation. For example:
- An E-Way Bill generated on 1st January 2025 can be extended only until 25th December 2025.
Taxpayers should plan their E-Way Bill extensions accordingly, as this change limits how long they can extend the validity of the bill.
What You Need to Do:
- Familiarize yourself with the new changes and update your compliance practices to align with these updates before the implementation dates.
- For more details or instructions, please visit the respective E-Invoice and E-Way Bill portals.
We appreciate your cooperation in ensuring a smooth transition to the updated systems and encourage you to act promptly to avoid any disruptions to your compliance.
Thank you,