If you're being reimbursed for a move by your employer, or simply want to make sure you're being charged correctly, understanding how GST applies to packers and movers services is worth five minutes. Here's exactly how it works, and what a valid invoice should actually contain.

GST Rates on Packers and Movers Services

There isn't a single flat GST rate for movers — it depends on exactly what's being billed:

• 5% GST — applies only when you're booking transportation alone (a Goods Transport Agency service), with no packing, loading, or unloading included.
• 18% GST — applies to a full-service move: packing, loading, transportation, and unloading together. This is the rate that applies to most household and office relocations booked as a complete package.
• 12% GST — can apply in specific business/corporate transportation-only contracts, distinct from the standard 5%/18% split most individual customers will see.

A common point of confusion: if a company charges only 5% GST on an invoice that clearly includes packing and loading labour, that invoice is likely incorrect — either the rate is wrong, or the invoice isn't accurately describing what was actually done.

What a Valid GST Invoice Must Include

• A valid 15-digit GSTIN, structured around the business's PAN
• The registered business name and address, matching the GSTIN registration
• A unique invoice number and date
• Itemized charges — packing, loading, transport, unloading, and any insurance listed separately, not as one lump sum
• The correct GST rate applied to the total, matching what was actually provided

How to Verify a GSTIN Is Genuine

This takes under a minute and is worth doing before paying a large invoice: go to the official GST portal at services.gst.gov.in, use the "Search Taxpayer" tool, and enter the GSTIN shown on your invoice. The portal will show the registered business name — check that it matches the name on your invoice exactly. If the GSTIN doesn't exist in the system, or the registered name doesn't match, that's a serious red flag.

Why This Matters for Reimbursement Claims

If your employer is reimbursing your relocation, they're typically verifying that the invoice reflects a real, completed service — not just checking that a document with "GST" printed on it exists. An invoice with an inconsistent GST rate for the described services, a GSTIN that doesn't verify, or vague, non-itemized charges is likely to raise questions during that verification, regardless of which company issued it.

Easy Shift's Billing

Every move Easy Shift completes comes with a proper GST-compliant invoice, itemized by service, reflecting the actual work carried out — accurate for your own records and for employer reimbursement submissions.