Taking your first online order is exciting. Taking it with the tax details already right saves a lot of correction work later. This is a practical checklist, not tax advice; confirm the specifics for your business with your CA.
Your GSTIN and legal name
Enter your GSTIN, legal business name and registered address in the store settings exactly as they appear on your GST registration. They print on every invoice. If you are not registered for GST, speak to your CA before selling across state lines, as rules for online sales differ from a shop counter.
HSN codes and GST rates per product
Each product should carry its HSN code and GST rate. Textiles, garments, jewellery and electronics often have different rates, and some depend on the price of the item. Set them per product rather than one rate for the whole store.
Prices with or without GST
Decide whether the prices you show include GST. Most consumer stores show prices including GST because that is what the customer pays. Merci Sites lets you choose and works out the tax part on each invoice either way.
Place of supply: CGST + SGST or IGST
For goods shipped within your own state, the invoice shows CGST and SGST. For goods shipped to another state, it shows IGST. The deciding factor is the delivery address, so make sure checkout collects a complete address with state and pincode. Merci Sites picks the right split automatically for every order.
Shipping and COD charges
Delivery and cash-on-delivery fees are part of the sale. Decide whether to show them separately, offer free delivery above an order value, or charge by weight or pincode zone.
Invoices and records
Every order should produce a numbered invoice that you can download and send. Keep your invoice series continuous and export your monthly GST summary for your CA, which Merci Sites includes in store reports.
Payments
Online payments go directly to your own payment gateway account, so settlement and its reports come from your gateway. Keep cash-on-delivery and UPI-transfer orders reconciled against your bank statement every week.
Get these right once and every order after that takes care of itself.