HourSlip blog
Resources for Indian freelancers.
Tax guides, invoicing tips, and practical advice from people who understand Indian freelancing.
Tax Guide
Budget 2026: What Indian Freelancers Need to Know for FY 2026-27
Budget 2026 is a continuity budget for freelancers. Here is what stayed, what changed, and what to do before 15 June 2026 — the first advance tax instalment.
20 May 2026·10 min readReadTax Guide
Section 194J TDS Explained for Freelancers — Budget 2025 Threshold Change
Budget 2025 raised the 194J threshold to Rs. 50,000. Here is what changed, who deducts at 10% vs 2%, how to handle missing PAN, and how to claim every rupee back in your ITR.
20 May 2026·10 min readReadTax Guide
How to File ITR-4 (Sugam) as a Freelancer in India — FY 2026-27
Step-by-step ITR-4 Sugam filing for freelancers: eligibility, 44ADA presumptive income, TDS credit, deadlines, and the mistakes that delay refunds — all for FY 2026-27.
20 May 2026·12 min readReadTax Guide
How to Calculate Advance Tax as a Freelancer in India (2026-27)
Step-by-step advance tax calculation with due dates, formula, and a worked example for ₹8L annual income. Never miss a quarterly deadline again.
02 Apr 2026·8 min readReadComparison
QuickBooks India Shut Down — Best Alternatives for Freelancers (2025)
QuickBooks pulled out of India. Here's what freelancers lost, and the best India-first alternatives to switch to right now.
10 Mar 2026·7 min readReadTax Guide
GST Registration for Freelancers in India: Do You Actually Need It?
The ₹20L threshold, LUT for exports, pros and cons of voluntary registration — everything you need to decide whether GST registration makes sense for you.
08 Mar 2026·9 min readReadTax Guide
GSTR-1 Filing for Freelancers: Complete Step-by-Step Guide (2026-27)
Quarterly vs monthly filing, what to include, B2B vs B2C invoices, common errors, and deadlines — your complete GSTR-1 filing guide.
05 Mar 2026·10 min readReadTax Guide
Your Client Deducted TDS — What Do You Do Now? (Freelancer Guide)
Your client deducted TDS from your invoice payment. Here's exactly what it means, how to verify it, and how to claim it back in your ITR.
01 Mar 2026·7 min readReadUse Case
Import Bank CSV and SMS as Expenses — 7 Indian Banks Supported
Stop typing every expense. HourSlip Pro parses CSVs from 7 Indian banks and SMS notifications from any sender. Android share target makes it one-tap.
20 May 2026·8 min readReadUse Case
Sharing HourSlip with Your CA: Read-Only Accountant Access
Skip the WhatsApp-and-CSV cycle with your CA. Read-only cockpit, magic-link login, full audit log — your CA sees what you see, with zero credential sharing.
20 May 2026·8 min readReadUse Case
GSTR-2B Reconciliation for Freelancers: A Practical Monthly Workflow
Every claimed rupee of ITC must trace to GSTR-2B. Here is the monthly workflow, the 4-state reconciliation model, and how to do it in minutes — not hours.
20 May 2026·9 min readReadComparison
Best GST Invoicing Software for Indian Freelancers (2026)
HourSlip, Zoho Invoice, Refrens, or spreadsheets? An honest feature-by-feature breakdown for Indian freelancers — GSTR-1 export, TDS tracking, advance tax, and pricing compared.
03 Jun 2026·9 min readReadComparison
HourSlip vs Refrens: Honest Comparison for Indian Freelancers (2025)
Feature-by-feature breakdown of HourSlip vs Refrens — pricing, invoicing, time tracking, and who each tool is actually built for.
25 Feb 2026·6 min readReadComparison
HourSlip vs Zoho Invoice: Why Free Isn't Always Enough
Zoho Invoice is free, but it's built for everyone. HourSlip is built specifically for Indian freelancers. Here's where it matters.
20 Feb 2026·6 min readReadComparison
Best QuickBooks Alternatives for Indian Freelancers in 2025
Looking for a QuickBooks replacement? We compare 5 invoicing tools for Indian freelancers — features, pricing, and India-specific support.
15 Feb 2026·8 min readReadComparison
HourSlip vs FreshBooks for Indian Freelancers: Which One Fits?
FreshBooks is popular globally but charges in USD with no GST support. Here's how HourSlip compares for the Indian freelancer.
10 Feb 2026·6 min readReadComparison
HourSlip vs Bonsai: Global Tool vs India-First Platform
Bonsai excels for US freelancers with contracts and proposals. But for Indian tax compliance? Here's the honest comparison.
05 Feb 2026·6 min readReadUse Case
Best Invoicing & Time Tracking Tool for Upwork Freelancers in India
Earning in USD on Upwork? Here's how to track your real INR income, handle TDS, and generate GST invoices for your Upwork work.
30 Jan 2026·7 min readReadUse Case
How Indian Fiverr Sellers Should Track Income & File Taxes
Fiverr takes 20% and pays in USD. Here's how Indian sellers should track their real earnings and stay on top of taxes.
25 Jan 2026·7 min readReadUse Case
Time Tracking & Invoicing for Independent Consultants in India
As an independent consultant, your time is literally your inventory. Here's how to track it, bill for it, and stay GST compliant.
20 Jan 2026·7 min readReadUse Case
How to Report Upwork Income in Indian ITR (Step-by-Step)
Earned on Upwork this year? Here's exactly how to declare it in your ITR — which form, which schedule, and how to handle forex.
15 Jan 2026·8 min readReadUse Case
How to Invoice International Clients from India (LUT, FEMA & GST)
Invoicing clients in USD/EUR from India involves LUT bonds, FEMA rules, and zero-rated GST. Here's the complete playbook.
10 Jan 2026·9 min readReadEvergreen
Complete Tax Guide for Freelancers in India (2026-27)
The definitive pillar guide — ITR-4, presumptive taxation, advance tax, GST, TDS, and deductions all explained for the Indian freelancer.
05 Jan 2026·15 min readReadEvergreen
How to Create a GST Invoice in India: Format, Rules & Free Template
Mandatory fields, CGST/SGST/IGST rules, SAC codes, and the exact format your CA expects — plus a free template to get started.
01 Jan 2026·8 min readReadEvergreen
How to Charge Interest on Late Payments as a Freelancer in India
Clients paying late? You can legally charge interest. Here's the legal basis, rate limits, and exactly how to word your invoice terms.
28 Dec 2025·6 min readReadEvergreen
Does a Freelancer in India Need to Pay Professional Tax?
Professional tax is a state-level obligation most freelancers overlook. Here's which states require it and how much you owe.
25 Dec 2025·6 min readReadEvergreen
Form 16A vs 26AS for Freelancers: What's the Difference?
Both relate to TDS but serve different purposes. Here's when to use each, how to reconcile them, and what to do when they don't match.
20 Dec 2025·6 min readRead