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SAC codes

SAC code for event management: 998596

Organising a dealer meet, exhibition or conference bills under one code. Here is the code, the rate and what changes for sponsorship.

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In short

Event management is billed under SAC 998596, usually at 18% GST under forward charge. In SimpleERP the event service carries its code and rate, and advances already received settle the final invoice.

Illustration of GST tax invoice INV-2026-27-0213 to Ravi Stores with CGST 9% and SGST 9%, round off, a UPI QR code and the amount in words.

The data

SAC 998596 at a glance

ItemValue
6-digit SAC998596: Events, exhibitions, conventions and trade shows organisation and assistance services
4-digit group9985
Chapter 99 headingSupport services
Usual GST rate18% under forward charge
Reverse chargeForward charge for most suppliers; sponsorship from a supplier other than a body corporate is under reverse charge, as notified.
ExemptionNo common exemption for event management itself, as notified.
Who typically bills itEvent managers, exhibition organisers and corporate event agencies
SAC 998596 as classified by CBIC, checked on the verified date below. Rates change, so confirm the rate for your goods or services with your CA or the GST portal before you rely on it.

Sources: CBIC: classification of services (SAC), CBIC: GST rates and notifications. Verified .

Which SAC code goes on a event management invoice?

The usual SAC code for event management is 998596: events, exhibitions, conventions and trade shows organisation and assistance services. It sits in group 9985, support services, under chapter 99, the chapter that holds every service code in the GST classification. Planning and running corporate events, exhibitions, conferences and trade shows usually take this code. Catering, rooms and goods sold separately carry their own codes.

What GST rate applies to event management?

Event management is usually charged at 18% GST under forward charge. Rates change, so confirm the rate for your goods or services with your CA or the GST portal before you rely on it.

  • Catering, hotel rooms and venue hire billed as separate supplies take their own codes and rates
  • Decor goods sold outright are goods with an HSN code, not part of 998596
  • A single package price may be one composite supply taxed at the principal service's rate; check

A event management invoice line in SimpleERP

Mangala Events organises a two-day dealer meet for Lakshmi Steel Furnitures and bills ₹1,80,000. The line carries SAC 998596 at 18%, so the invoice shows CGST ₹16,200 and SGST ₹16,200, a total of ₹2,12,400.

  • SAC 998596 sits on the line from the saved service, so nobody types it per invoice
  • Place of supply picks CGST and SGST for a client in your state, or IGST for one in another
  • The HSN/SAC summary groups every line by code, ready for the GSTR-1 HSN table

Illustration of the keyboard-first invoice editor with a focused line, live tax totals and shortcut hints.

When is reverse charge or an exemption involved?

Event management is under forward charge, as notified. Sponsorship is the exception to watch: sponsorship services from a supplier other than a body corporate to a body corporate or partnership firm are under [reverse charge](/glossary/reverse-charge-mechanism), as notified; check, since this entry changed in October 2024.

  • Sponsorship supplied by a body corporate has been under forward charge since October 2024, as notified; check
  • Admission tickets to events are a separate supply with their own rules
  • When the reverse charge entry applies, the sponsor pays the GST and your invoice carries the note instead

Sources

FAQ

Questions, answered

Is SAC mandatory on my event management invoice?

Yes, on B2B invoices: 9985 up to ₹5 crore turnover and 998596 above it. Corporate clients book event spend against budgets, so the six-digit code on each line helps their accounts team.

Can I use 9985 instead of 998596?

Up to ₹5 crore turnover, 9985 is enough on B2B invoices. Above it, use 998596. Heading 9985 also holds manpower and security services, so 9985 alone tells the client little about what they paid for.

Does reverse charge apply to event management?

Usually not. Event management is under forward charge, as notified, so you charge GST on your own invoice and the client claims the credit. The exception is sponsorship: when a company or a partnership firm sponsors the event, the sponsor pays the GST under reverse charge, as notified; check.

What if my client is in another state?

For organising an event for a registered client, the place of supply is the client's location. An event in Goa for a Coimbatore company is still CGST and SGST. In SimpleERP the client's GSTIN sets it and the invoice splits the tax.

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