SAC code
SAC code for translation and interpretation: 998395
Translation and interpretation is classified under SAC 998395, “Translation and interpretation 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: 998395
- Description: Translation and interpretation services
- Heading: 9983, Other professional, technical and business 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 998395 covers
- Document and website translation.
- Remote interpretation for meetings and calls.
- Localisation of product text.
On an export invoice
An example: Weber Maschinenbau GmbH, a client in Germany, is billed in EUR on 15 October 2026 under an LUT.
| Description | SAC | Quantity | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Translation, German to English | 998395 | 18,000 words | €0.09 | €1,620.00 |
| IGST at 0%, export under LUT | €0.00 | |||
| Total | €1,620.00 |
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 | Weber Maschinenbau GmbH, Germany |
| Service and SAC | Translation, German to English · 998395 |
| Currency and value | €1,620.00 |
| 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
- Interpretation delivered in person at an event held in India has its own place-of-supply rule. Remote interpretation for a client abroad is the usual export case.
- Copywriting in another language is writing rather than translation, and may be classified differently.
- 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 translation and interpretation?
- 998395: Translation and interpretation services. It sits under heading 9983, other professional, technical and business services.
- Is GST charged on translation and interpretation 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 translation services?
- 998395, translation and interpretation services.
Related
- SAC code for software development998314: Information technology (IT) design and development services
- SAC code for website design and development998314: Information technology (IT) design and development 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.