Everything here describes what the app actually does. If BillNest behaves differently from this page, the page is wrong — tell us and we'll fix it.
Getting started
- Install from the Shopify App Store. No account to create: you sign in with Shopify.
- Settings — enter your business GSTIN and state. Nothing can be invoiced until these are set, because the state code is what decides CGST/SGST against IGST. Set your invoice number series here too.
- Products / HSN — assign HSN or SAC codes and their GST rates. Line items with no HSN fall back to the shop default rate, which may be the wrong tax.
- Generate one invoice for an existing order and read the PDF end to end before you let it run on its own — the seller block, the tax split, the number series and the rate on every line.
From then on, every paid order is invoiced automatically.
Where things live
| Page | What it's for |
|---|---|
| Dashboard | Setup state, what needs attention, recent documents |
| Invoices | Every document, with search, filters and regeneration |
| Bulk & Jobs | Invoice past orders, regenerate a range, download a ZIP |
| GST Reports | GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B for a period, Excel and GSTN-format JSON |
| Analytics | Totals across your own invoice data |
| Products / HSN | HSN and SAC codes with their GST rates, per product |
| HSN / SAC list | The built-in code list; your own entries override it |
| Multiple GSTINs | Extra registrations and their number series (Enterprise) |
| Settings | GSTIN, state, numbering, tax behaviour, branding |
| Billing | Your plan and this month's invoice count |
Troubleshooting
"Finish setup first"#
Add your business GSTIN and state in Settings. BillNest will not generate a document without them: the seller state code is what decides whether an order is intra-state (CGST + SGST) or inter-state (IGST), and guessing it would produce a wrong tax invoice.
"Re-approve permissions"#
BillNest is missing a Shopify permission it was granted at install. Until it is restored, orders can't be routed to the GSTIN of the location that fulfilled them — they fall back to your default GSTIN. That means the wrong registration, the wrong CGST/SGST-against-IGST split, and the wrong number series on documents you will file. Reinstall from the banner to re-approve.
"N invoices may have the wrong GST rate"#
Those invoices have line items with no HSN code, so your shop's default GST rate was applied and the tax may be incorrect. Assign the codes and rates on Products / HSN, then use Bulk & Jobs → Regenerate all to recompute the affected documents.
"Monthly invoice limit reached"#
You've used your plan's invoice allowance for the billing month. It resets at the start of the next month, or you can upgrade for a higher cap. Proforma invoices and delivery challans don't count against the quota — only GST documents do.
"e-Invoicing (IRN) is mandatory for your turnover"#
Your annual turnover is over ₹5 crore, so every B2B tax invoice, credit note and debit note must carry an IRN and signed QR code from the government e-invoice portal. BillNest does not generate IRNs. Until you register these documents on the IRP or through your GSP, they are not valid tax invoices on their own. If you already generate IRNs externally, tick I issue e-invoices (IRN) externally in Settings to clear the warning.
"This document is locked"#
Documents are locked once they can no longer be changed safely — a filed period, a document carrying an IRN, or one with credit or debit notes raised against it. Locked documents are skipped by bulk regeneration and are never deleted.
"Remove the filing lock?"#
Removing it makes every previously filed document editable again. Changing a document you have already reported puts the app out of step with the return you filed, so this asks you to type REOPEN to confirm. Raise a credit or debit note instead wherever you can.
A feature says it needs a different plan#
Custom branding is Starter and above, bulk generation is Starter and above, GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B exports are Growth and above, and multiple GSTINs are Enterprise. Credit notes are on every plan, including Free — a refund against an issued tax invoice has to be reversed by one under section 34, so it is not something we withhold.
Invoice numbering
Numbers are gapless and per financial year, in the series you set. With multiple GSTINs (Enterprise) each registration gets its own series, so branches never share a sequence. Because the series has to stay gapless, a document is cancelled rather than deleted once it has been issued.
Billing
Your plan and this month's count are on the Billing page. Plans are charged through Shopify, so changes and cancellations happen there and appear on your Shopify invoice.
Uninstalling
Uninstall from your Shopify admin. Export anything you still need first — GST Reports and the CSV invoice register are the quickest way to take your records with you.
Still stuck?
Email support@appnest.studio with your store domain and, if it's about one document, its invoice number. That's usually enough to find it.