Updated 3 November 2026. Based on the latest reports we could find; confirm the current status on the e-way bill portal and GST portal advisories before changing your process.
Short answer: the mandatory Ship-to GSTIN field and the voluntary e-way bill closure facility, first planned for 15 June 2026 and then for 1 August 2026, were put on hold in late July 2026. As of the latest reports we found (September 2026), no new date had been announced. What still applies: two-factor authentication on the portal, a 180-day limit on the age of the document used to generate an e-way bill, and a 360-day limit on extending validity.
Quick refresher: when an e-way bill is needed
An e-way bill is an electronic document generated on the GST e-way bill portal before goods are moved. In general it is required when goods worth more than ₹50,000 are transported, with some state-level variations and specific exemptions. It carries Part A (invoice, supplier, recipient and goods details) and Part B (vehicle or transporter details), and its validity depends on the distance travelled. Most mid-size businesses generate e-way bills from their billing or ERP system through the API rather than by hand, which is why portal changes like the ones below land on software teams.
What was announced
According to a timeline compiled by Busy:
- 22 May 2026: NIC published proposed changes, including a mandatory Ship-to GSTIN in some Bill-to/Ship-to transactions (including IRN-based B2B and SEZ cases) and a facility to close an e-way bill voluntarily. The planned date was 15 June 2026.
- 9 June 2026: the date moved to 1 August 2026.
- 17 June and early July 2026: GSTN issued guidance and FAQs on the e-invoice and e-way bill API changes.
- Late July 2026: GSTN put the changes on hold, and NIC's release notes marked the May update as withdrawn.
Dhanaay, writing in September 2026, also reported that no new go-live date had been found.
What still applies today
- Two-factor authentication for taxpayers and transporters on the e-way bill portal, in force since 1 April 2025.
- 180-day document limit: an e-way bill cannot be generated against an invoice or document older than 180 days.
- 360-day extension limit: validity cannot be extended beyond 360 days from generation.
- Existing Bill-to/Ship-to process continues as before.
Why it still matters
A change that is on hold can come back with short notice. Businesses that had already updated their ERP for the August date found it worthwhile, and those that had not would have had little time. The sensible approach is to keep your system ready without switching on new validations until GSTN confirms a date.
How to keep your billing and ERP ready
- Capture Ship-to GSTIN anyway. Store the consignee's GSTIN in your customer and delivery address masters. It costs nothing now and avoids a rush later.
- Keep the API integration configurable. If you generate e-way bills by API or through IRN, make the Ship-to GSTIN field and any closure call switchable by setting, not hard-coded.
- Watch document age. Add a warning in your software when someone tries to generate an e-way bill for an invoice approaching 180 days.
- Track extensions. Flag e-way bills nearing the 360-day extension limit, especially for long-haul or job-work movements.
- Follow the official advisories. Subscribe to GST portal news and the e-way bill portal's updates, and check your GSP or ERP vendor's release notes.
If your invoices are also e-invoices, the same masters feed both systems. See our guide to e-invoicing for reverse charge and import of services from 2027, and our GST billing software checklist.
How we can help
Nextinera integrates e-invoice and e-way bill APIs into ERP, inventory and billing software for Indian businesses. Book a free call if you want your system ready before the next change.