How to Cancel E-Way Bill: Step-by-Step Guide

If you generated an e-way bill by mistake, wrong vehicle number, incorrect invoice, cancelled goods, or duplicate entry, here’s a way you can cancel it easily on the GST portal, but only within the permitted time. 

Here’s the simplest explanation of how to cancel an e-way bill.

Time Limit for Cancellation

You can cancel an e-way bill within 24 hours of generating it.
After 24 hours, cancellation is not allowed, but you may still reject it (only by the recipient) within 72 hours.

Steps to Cancel E-Way Bill

1. Go to ewaybillgst.gov.in
    
2. Log in with your GST credentials
    
3. Click “e-Waybill” → “Cancel”
    
4. Enter the 12-digit EWB number
    
5. Select the reason:
    
   • Wrong entry
      
   • Duplicate bill
      
   • Goods not transported
      
   • Order cancelled
      
6. Submit and confirm

Once cancelled, the e-way bill becomes invalid and cannot be used for movement of goods.

Important Rules to Remember

• Only the generator of the e-way bill can cancel it
   
• If verified by an officer, it cannot be cancelled
   
• Vehicle number mistakes can be updated, not cancelled
   
• Both the supplier and transporter get cancellation alerts

Common Reasons for Cancellation

• Wrong invoice details
   
• Wrong GSTIN entered
   
• Goods not dispatched
   
• Order cancelled by buyer
   
• Duplicate e-way bill created

Understand with an Example

If you created an e-way bill for ₹85,000 goods but later found the invoice number was wrong, simply log in → cancel → create a fresh e-way bill. This avoids penalties during transit.

Conclusion

A cancelled e-way bill ensures that incorrect or unused entries don’t create issues during transit or GST compliance. By following the simple steps on the portal within the 24-hour window, you can correct mistakes quickly and keep your records accurate.