e-Way Bill in Tally Prime: Setup, Online & Offline

An e-way bill is mandatory for the movement of goods worth more than Rs 50,000 under GST, and Tally Prime lets you generate it without leaving your accounting software. Whether you prefer generating the bill online directly from a voucher or exporting a JSON file for bulk upload, the process is built into Tally Prime’s GST features. This guide explains the one-time setup, both generation methods, and the errors businesses most commonly encounter.

When an e-way bill is required

Under the GST law, a registered person must generate an e-way bill before transporting goods where the consignment value exceeds Rs 50,000. This threshold applies to a single invoice, or in some cases to the aggregate value of goods carried in a single conveyance. The bill captures the details of the supplier (consignor), recipient (consignee), the goods, and the transporter, and it must accompany the movement of goods either physically or electronically.

Tally Prime supports e-way bill generation from a range of vouchers, including sales, purchase, debit note, credit note, delivery note, and receipt note, so the workflow fits most trading and manufacturing scenarios. To generate a bill, you will need details such as the transporter ID or transporter name, the vehicle number where applicable, and the approximate pin-to-pin distance of transport.

One-time setup for e-way bill in Tally Prime

Before you can generate an e-way bill from Tally Prime, complete the following configuration. This is a one-time exercise per company.

1. Register your business on the e-way bill portal at ewaybillgst.gov.in and note your login credentials.
2. On the portal, create an API user profile and select Tally (India) Pvt Ltd as your GST Suvidha Provider (GSP). This step authorises Tally Prime to exchange data with the portal for the online method.
3. In Tally Prime, press F11 (Features) and confirm that GST is enabled and that your company GSTIN is entered correctly. An incorrect or blank GSTIN is the most frequent cause of rejection.
4. Within the GST setup, enable the e-way bill option and set the applicability threshold to Rs 50,000, along with the applicable date. You can also set the bill to apply based on invoice value or taxable value as per your requirement.

Once these settings are saved, Tally Prime will prompt you for e-way bill details whenever a qualifying voucher is recorded.

Generating an e-way bill online (direct from Tally Prime)

The online method connects Tally Prime directly to the e-way bill portal using your login credentials, so the bill number and QR code return to the voucher automatically. This is the fastest route for day-to-day billing.

1. Record or open a GST sales voucher and enter the party, ledgers, stock items, and tax details.
2. Set the option “Provide GST/e-Way Bill details” to Yes to open the statutory details screen.
3. Verify the consignor details (your mailing name, GSTIN, address, and pincode) and the consignee details, which auto-populate from the party ledger.
4. In the transport details section, enter the pin-to-pin distance, transporter name, transporter ID, and vehicle number where applicable. You can press Alt+L to calculate the distance directly from the NIC portal.
5. Press Ctrl+A to save the voucher, which triggers the e-way bill request.
6. When prompted, enter your e-way bill portal username and password. After a successful login you remain authenticated for around six hours, so you are not asked to log in for every subsequent bill.
7. Tally Prime exchanges data with the portal and returns the e-way bill number and QR code. Press Page Down on the voucher to view the full e-way bill details, which are stored against the transaction.

If you also generate e-invoices, you can send e-way bill details together with the e-invoice by opening the voucher, pressing F12 (Configure), and setting “Send e-Way Bill details with e-Invoice” to Yes.

Generating an e-way bill offline (JSON export)

The offline method suits businesses that prefer to upload bills in bulk, or that face intermittent internet connectivity. Here you export a JSON file from Tally Prime and upload it to the portal manually, then bring the confirmation back into Tally.

1. Press Alt+Z and select “Send for e-Way Bill” to view the list of pending transactions.
2. Select the required transactions and press X for offline export.
3. Press C (Configure) if you need to change the folder where the JSON file will be saved, then press E to export.
4. Log in to the e-way bill portal and go to e-Way Bill and then Generate Bulk (or Consolidated EWB and then Generate Bulk for consolidated bills).
5. Click Choose File, select the exported JSON file, and click Upload and Generate. The portal processes the file and issues the e-way bill numbers.
6. Return to Tally Prime and use the “Get e-Way Bill Info” option from the e-way bill report to update your vouchers with the generated bill numbers, so your records stay reconciled with the portal.

This import step is important: without pulling the confirmation back, your Tally vouchers will show the transactions as still pending even though the bills exist on the portal.

Common issues and how to resolve them

Most e-way bill failures trace back to data entered in the voucher or the master. The following are the issues we see most often when supporting clients.

Invalid or missing GSTIN

If the company GSTIN was not saved during company creation, or does not match the portal account, the request is rejected. Update the GSTIN under F11 before generating any bill, and type credentials manually rather than pasting to avoid stray characters.

Distance errors

The portal does not accept distance in decimals, and the value cannot be less than 0.5 km or more than 4,000 km. Enter whole numbers only; newer releases of Tally Prime round decimals automatically during offline export.

Pincode and state mismatch

The portal validates the pincode against the state, though the “Place” field is free text and is not validated. Confirm that the consignee “Ship To” section carries the correct state and a valid Indian pincode.

Connectivity or login failures

A “Request failed” message in the Exchange Summary usually points to a network or session issue. Restart your internet connection, re-login to refresh the session, check the Tally services status page, and ensure Tally Prime is allowed through your firewall.

Blocked GSTIN

If your GSTIN is blocked for non-filing of returns, no bill can be generated. File the pending GSTR-3B returns, then on the portal use Search and then Update Block Status to refresh your filing status; unblocking usually takes effect the next day.

Frequently asked questions

Is an e-way bill required for consignments below Rs 50,000?

Generally no, but certain goods and inter-state job-work movements require an e-way bill regardless of value. Check the specific notification applicable to your goods and state before deciding.

Can I generate an e-way bill without an internet connection?

You cannot generate the bill itself offline, but you can prepare a JSON file in Tally Prime offline and upload it later when you have connectivity. The bill number is issued only by the portal.

Do I need a separate e-invoice and e-way bill?

They are distinct documents, but if e-invoicing applies to you, Tally Prime can send e-way bill details along with the e-invoice in a single request, saving a step.

What if the vehicle number changes during transit?

You must update Part B of the e-way bill on the portal with the new vehicle details. Tally Prime records the original details, but transit updates are handled on the e-way bill system.

How long does the login session last in the online method?

After a successful login from Tally Prime, the session generally stays active for about six hours, so you are not prompted to authenticate for each bill during that window.

Keeping e-way bill and GST records accurate takes consistent setup and reconciliation, and small errors can hold up the movement of your goods. If you would like expert help with GST return filing, e-way bill compliance, and Tally configuration, the team at TAXAJ can manage the process end to end so you can focus on your business.