SAC code
SAC code for accounting and bookkeeping: 998222
Accounting and bookkeeping is classified under SAC 998222, “Accounting and bookkeeping services”. Billed to a client abroad, it is usually an export: zero-rated, and listed on your monthly EDF.
Checked against the rules on 6 October 2026
The code
- SAC code: 998222
- Description: Accounting and bookkeeping services
- Heading: 9982, Legal and accounting services
- GST in India: 18% (9% CGST and 9% SGST, or 18% IGST).
- On an export: zero-rated; under an LUT, no IGST on the invoice.
What 998222 covers
- Bookkeeping for a client abroad.
- Preparing management accounts and financial statements.
- Reconciliations and month-end close.
When it is a different code
| Code | Description | Use it when |
|---|---|---|
| 998221 | Financial auditing services | the work is an audit |
| 998223 | Payroll services | you run payroll for the client |
| 998231 | Corporate tax consulting and preparation | you prepare tax returns |
On an export invoice
An example: Tallgrass Coffee Co., a client in United States, is billed in USD on 15 October 2026 under an LUT.
| Description | SAC | Quantity | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly bookkeeping, October 2026 | 998222 | 1 month | $900.00 | $900.00 |
| IGST at 0%, export under LUT | $0.00 | |||
| Total | $900.00 |
The invoice also carries the client's country, your LUT reference and the endorsement “Supply meant for export under letter of undertaking without payment of integrated tax”. The client and figures are made up.
On the monthly EDF
| On the EDF | For this invoice |
|---|---|
| Buyer and country | Tallgrass Coffee Co., United States |
| Service and SAC | Monthly bookkeeping, October 2026 · 998222 |
| Currency and value | $900.00 |
| Value in rupees | At the exchange rate on the invoice |
Raised in October 2026, it goes on October's EDF, due at your bank by 30 November 2026. The payment has to reach India by 15 July 2027.
Worth knowing
- Offshore bookkeeping is often billed monthly. A recurring invoice keeps one invoice per month and one line per month on the EDF.
- On GST invoices, a business with turnover above ₹5 crore shows all six digits; up to ₹5 crore, at least four on invoices to businesses. The EDF asks for the SAC on every line, so use the full code.
Questions people ask
- What is the SAC code for accounting and bookkeeping?
- 998222: Accounting and bookkeeping services. It sits under heading 9982, legal and accounting services.
- Is GST charged on accounting and bookkeeping for a foreign client?
- Not when it is an export. If all five conditions are met, the service is zero-rated, and under an LUT the invoice carries no IGST. For a client in India, GST is 18%.
- What is the SAC code for bookkeeping services?
- 998222, accounting and bookkeeping services.
Related
- SAC code for tax consulting and return preparation998231: Corporate tax consulting and preparation services
- Export Declaration Form (EDF) for servicesFrom 1 October 2026 every Indian exporter of services, freelancers included, files one EDF a month with their AD bank.
- When is a service an export under GST? The five conditionsA service counts as an export, and is zero-rated, only if all five conditions in section 2(6) of the IGST Act are met.
This page explains the rules in general. It is not tax or legal advice for your business; check anything you act on with your CA.