GSTIN verification
GSTIN verification is a GST number search on gst.gov.in. It shows whether a 15-digit GSTIN is active, and the legal name on that registration. Company Suggestion checks a supplier’s GSTIN before a purchase is booked for input tax credit.
What does a GSTIN contain?
A GSTIN is fifteen characters. Each group is fixed.
- The first two characters are the state code.
- The next ten characters are the PAN of the business. A proprietorship uses the owner’s PAN.
- The thirteenth character is the entity code for that PAN in that state.
- The fourteenth character is Z, and the fifteenth is a check character.
A second registration in the same state, on the same PAN, changes the entity code. It does not reuse the first GSTIN.
How do you search a GST number?
The public search is on gst.gov.in under Search Taxpayer, then Search by GSTIN/UIN. The GSTIN is typed with the captcha. No username is required.
The same menu can search by PAN. That list shows every GSTIN on that PAN. A failed search means the number is not a GSTIN. It does not mean the portal is down.
Which details does the search show?
The public record is short. It does not show returns or bank details.
- Legal name, and the trade name if one is recorded
- GSTIN status, such as Active or Cancelled
- Date of registration, and the constitution of the business
- Taxpayer type
- Centre jurisdiction and state jurisdiction
- Nature of the business activities
What are the check steps?
Company Suggestion checks a GSTIN in four steps.
- The fifteen characters are read off the tax invoice, including the state code and the PAN.
- The number is searched on gst.gov.in.
- The legal name and the status are matched to the supplier on the invoice.
- A cancelled or mismatched GSTIN is sent back before the purchase is booked. A new supplier who needs a number is pointed to GST registration.
Frequently asked questions
4 questions cover the rules that decide this registration.
How many digits is a GSTIN?
Fifteen. Two digits are the state code, the next ten are the PAN, then an entity code, the letter Z, and a check character.
Is a login required to search a GSTIN?
No. Search Taxpayer on gst.gov.in is a public search. It asks for the GSTIN and the captcha.
Does a cancelled GSTIN still appear?
Yes. The search returns the record with the status Cancelled. An active supplier shows the status Active.
Why check a supplier’s GSTIN before a purchase?
Input tax credit needs a tax invoice from a registered supplier, and the invoice has to appear in GSTR-2B. A cancelled or mistyped GSTIN does not support that credit.