The Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN) has announced an important advisory regarding the integration of the Parcel Management System (PMS) with the E-Way Bill (EWB) system. This integration, facilitated through Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), enables the seamless transfer of Railway Receipt (RR) and Parcel Way Bill (PWB) data directly to the E-way bill portal, thereby enhancing the efficiency of goods transportation across the nation. The primary aim of this integration is to ensure that taxpayers using Indian Railways for goods transportation provide accurate information, minimising discrepancies in data reporting.
Under the new guidelines, taxpayers utilising the Indian Railways PMS must enter the correct RR or PWB number in Part B of the EWB portal. A standardised format has been introduced to ensure consistency and accuracy in data entry. Specifically, suppliers transporting goods from their factories to railway stations must update Part B of the EWB, especially when opting for rail transport under the PMS. To do so, they need to use the “Multi-Transport Mode” option, select Rail as the transport mode, and input the corresponding RR or PWB number.
The format for entering RR or PWB numbers has been standardised as follows: PXXXRRNo. Here, “P” indicates PMS, “XXX” denotes the originating station code, and “RRNo” is the actual Railway Receipt number. For example, if the RR number is 2020-307306 from station code NZM, it should be entered as PNZM2020-307306 in the EWB system.
Furthermore, the EWB system will validate entered RR/PWB numbers against data from the PMS. Any mismatches will trigger alerts, urging taxpayers to ensure the accuracy of their entries to avoid delays. The correct input of RR and PWB numbers is critical for efficient tracking and verification of goods transported via Indian Railways, promoting hassle-free validation.
Taxpayers experiencing difficulties or discrepancies are encouraged to raise support tickets, specifying the relevant RR or PWB number for assistance. This integration represents a significant advancement in enhancing compliance and ensuring smooth coordination between Indian Railways and GSTN. For detailed guidance, taxpayers can access sample formats within the system resources.
