GST Number Search: Check GSTIN Online
Check whether a GSTIN has the correct 15-character structure and checksum, understand every part of the number, and verify the taxpayer's legal name, status, address and filing details on the official GST Portal.
Check the number before searching
Enter a GSTIN to test its length, PAN pattern, State code and checksum. The check runs only in your browser.
This tool does not query GSTN records or display live taxpayer data.
Open page contents
What is GST number search?
GST number search means checking a registered taxpayer's public profile using a GSTIN, UIN or PAN. It helps you confirm that the number on an invoice belongs to the stated business and review its registration status and filing information.
A GSTIN format checker tells you whether the number is structurally possible; the official GST Portal tells you whether that GST registration exists and what its current status is.
Format validation
Checks 15 characters, State code, PAN pattern, entity segment and checksum. It can catch typing errors before portal search or invoice entry.
Live taxpayer verification
Checks legal name, trade name, status, registration date, taxpayer type, address, jurisdiction and filing data on gst.gov.in.
GST registration is State or Union Territory based. One PAN can therefore appear inside multiple GSTINs for registrations in different States, and permitted separate registrations can create more than one GSTIN in a State.
Why should you verify a GST number?
A GSTIN should be checked when onboarding a vendor, approving an invoice, creating a customer master or reviewing a business claiming to charge GST.
- Confirm the GSTIN belongs to the legal or trade name printed on the invoice.
- Check whether the registration was Active on the relevant transaction date.
- Match the State code and registered place of business with the invoicing branch.
- Identify Regular, Composition, SEZ, TDS, TCS or another taxpayer type where shown.
- Review the effective registration or cancellation date.
- Check return filing information and filing frequency available on the portal.
- Reduce invoice-entry errors and avoid using a GSTIN belonging to another entity.
An Active GSTIN is an identity and status check. Input tax credit still depends on the invoice, receipt of supply, supplier reporting, GSTR-2B or IMS treatment and all applicable section 16 conditions.
How to verify GST number online without login
The GST Portal's public Search Taxpayer service accepts a GSTIN or UIN and shows public registration and filing information after captcha verification.
Open search
Visit the official Search Taxpayer page on gst.gov.in.
Enter GSTIN
Type the GSTIN or UIN exactly as shown on the invoice.
Complete captcha
Enter the characters displayed and submit the search.
Compare details
Match name, status, date, type, address and filing table.
Ready to check the live registration?
Copy the GSTIN from the checker and complete the captcha on the Government GST Portal.
No CompanyJi or third-party form can bypass the GST Portal captcha for an authoritative public search. Do not share GST login credentials with an unknown website.
GSTIN format explained character by character
Rule 3 of the GST registration rules assigns two characters to State code, ten to PAN or TAN, two to entity code and one to checksum. A normal PAN-based GSTIN is commonly read in the five parts below.
| Position | Example | Meaning | What to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-2 | 27 | State or Union Territory code | 27 corresponds to Maharashtra |
| 3-12 | ABCDE1234F | Ten-character PAN | Should match the business PAN in normal PAN-based registration |
| 13 | 1 | Registration sequence or entity character | Distinguishes registrations using the same PAN and State code |
| 14 | Z | Conventionally Z in a normal GSTIN | A different character usually fails the standard GSTIN pattern |
| 15 | 5 | Checksum character | Detects many typing or transcription errors |
Read characters 3 through 12. In the example 27ABCDE1234F1Z5, the embedded PAN is ABCDE1234F.
What details can a GSTIN search show?
The GST Portal separates public pre-login details from additional information available to a logged-in registered user.
| Detail | Without login | After login | How to use it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legal and trade name | Available | Available | Match both against invoice and onboarding documents |
| Registration date and status | Available | Available | Compare with invoice date and current relationship |
| Constitution and taxpayer type | Available | Available | Identify proprietor, company, LLP, Regular, Composition or other category |
| Principal place of business | Available | Additional place details may be available | Check the invoicing State and business location |
| Cancellation date | Where applicable | Where applicable | Do not read current Active status into an earlier or later period without dates |
| Return filing table and frequency | Available | Available | Review recent filing pattern, not just registration identity |
| Promoter or director names | Not part of basic public result | Additional details may be shown | Useful for enhanced due diligence |
| E-way bill history and tax-payment indicators | Not part of basic public result | Additional details may be shown | Use as context, not as a single pass or fail score |
Search GST number by GSTIN, PAN or business name
| What you have | Best method | What you receive | Reliability note |
|---|---|---|---|
| GSTIN or UIN | Official Search Taxpayer by GSTIN/UIN | Profile for that exact registration | Best method for invoice and vendor verification |
| PAN | Official Search Taxpayer by PAN | GST registrations linked to the PAN, with State and status | Useful for finding branch registrations and detecting PAN misuse |
| Legal or trade name | Obtain PAN or GSTIN from invoice, contract, certificate or business | Name alone may return ambiguous or incomplete matches on third-party services | Confirm the result on gst.gov.in using GSTIN or PAN |
Same brand, different GSTIN
A supplier trades under one national brand but invoices from Maharashtra and Karnataka. The legal name and PAN segment may match, while the first two State-code characters and the full GSTIN differ. Verify the registration printed on the specific invoice.
How to read Active, Suspended and Cancelled GSTIN status
Current registration
The GST Portal currently shows the registration as active. Still match dates, taxpayer type, invoice details and return reporting.
Not normal active status
Cancellation proceedings or another registration action may be pending. Check the effective date and obtain clarification before relying on new invoices.
Registration ended
Compare the effective cancellation date with the invoice date. Also check whether the status was later restored or revoked.
| Portal field | Meaning | Buyer or reviewer action |
|---|---|---|
| Taxpayer type: Regular | Normal taxpayer category, subject to applicable return and tax rules | Check invoice, status, filing and GSTR-2B or IMS records |
| Taxpayer type: Composition | Taxpayer paying under the composition scheme | Expect a bill of supply rather than tax invoice; tax should not be collected as normal output tax |
| Date of registration | Effective start of registration shown by the portal | Question invoices dated before the effective date |
| Date of cancellation | Effective end date where registration is cancelled | Review invoices after this date and any revocation order or changed status |
| Return filing table | Forms and filing dates shown for selected periods | Use it as a compliance signal, then reconcile your invoice in GSTR-2B or IMS |
GST number verification checklist before payment
A careful GST check joins the portal result with the invoice, contract, supply evidence and your tax records.
| Check | Compare | Red flag | Next action |
|---|---|---|---|
| GSTIN structure | Invoice GSTIN with State code, PAN pattern and checksum | Wrong length, impossible PAN segment or checksum failure | Ask for corrected invoice before posting |
| Business identity | Legal name and trade name with invoice and contract | GSTIN belongs to a different entity | Pause payment and seek documentary clarification |
| Registration timeline | Registration or cancellation date with invoice date | Invoice falls outside active registration period | Review legal effect and replacement document with adviser |
| Location | GSTIN State code and place of business with invoicing branch | Unexplained branch or State mismatch | Confirm correct supplier GSTIN and place-of-supply treatment |
| Taxpayer type | Regular or Composition status with document issued | Composition taxpayer charges GST on a normal tax invoice | Seek correction before credit or payment treatment |
| Return behavior | Portal filing table and your GSTR-2B or IMS | Repeated non-filing or invoice missing from recipient records | Follow up with supplier and apply the current ITC rules |
| Supply evidence | PO, receipt, e-way bill, delivery or service evidence | Invoice exists without commercial evidence | Complete procurement controls before approving claim |
An Active GSTIN with the wrong legal name
A vendor sends an invoice using an Active GSTIN, but the portal shows that the number belongs to another company. The number is real, yet the invoice identity is wrong. Active status alone is not enough.
What GSTIN verification can and cannot prove
Rule 46 requires the supplier's name, address and GSTIN on a tax invoice, and the recipient's GSTIN or UIN where the recipient is registered. But a correct GSTIN is only one part of invoice and ITC review.
GSTIN search can support
- Supplier identity check
- Registration status and dates
- Taxpayer type and business constitution
- Registered location and jurisdiction
- Return filing pattern
GSTIN search cannot prove
- That goods or services were received
- That the invoice is reported correctly in your GSTR-2B
- That tax was paid for this exact invoice
- That every ITC condition is satisfied
- That the commercial transaction is genuine
Verify the GSTIN, validate the invoice particulars, confirm receipt of supply, review the document in IMS or GSTR-2B, reconcile books and apply the current eligibility, time-limit, payment and blocked-credit rules.
How to identify or report a suspicious GST number
- The number fails the standard GSTIN pattern or checksum.
- The embedded PAN does not match the PAN shared by the vendor.
- The portal returns no record for the GSTIN.
- The legal name, State or address belongs to another business.
- The registration is Suspended or Cancelled but current invoices continue to charge GST.
- The same invoice contains inconsistent GSTINs across header, QR code, e-way bill or payment documents.
If your PAN was used for an unknown GST registration
- Open Search Taxpayer > Search by PAN on the GST Portal.
- Enter the PAN and review every GST registration displayed.
- Select a registration you did not obtain and choose the portal's Report option.
- Complete mobile, email and identity verification and submit the complaint.
- Preserve the acknowledgement for follow-up with the jurisdictional authority.
Trade names can differ from legal names, status can change, and genuine branches have different GSTINs. Preserve the result, compare source documents and seek clarification before making an allegation.
Common GST number search errors and fixes
| Problem | Likely reason | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| GSTIN must be 15 characters | Missing or extra character, spaces or punctuation | Copy the GSTIN from the registration certificate or invoice and remove spaces |
| Invalid PAN pattern | Characters 3-12 do not match the PAN structure | Compare with the supplier PAN and request correction |
| Checksum failed | One or more characters were mistyped | Recheck visually similar characters such as 0/O, 1/I and 5/S |
| No records found | Wrong GSTIN, registration not granted, or search mismatch | Check the source document and try official Search by PAN |
| Captcha error | Captcha expired or entered incorrectly | Refresh the captcha and submit again |
| Portal not loading | Maintenance, traffic or temporary technical issue | Retry later and use the official GST help or known-issues guidance if persistent |
| Status shows Inactive | Registration is not currently shown as Active | Contact the supplier or jurisdictional officer and do not treat it as normal active status |
| Invoice missing from GSTR-2B | Supplier has not filed or document is outside the statement cut-off or IMS treatment | Follow up with supplier and apply the current ITC and IMS process |
GST State code list used in the first two characters
The first two characters identify the State or Union Territory connected with the GST registration. Legacy codes can still appear in historical records.
| Code | State / UT | Code | State / UT |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Jammu and Kashmir | 20 | Jharkhand |
| 02 | Himachal Pradesh | 21 | Odisha |
| 03 | Punjab | 22 | Chhattisgarh |
| 04 | Chandigarh | 23 | Madhya Pradesh |
| 05 | Uttarakhand | 24 | Gujarat |
| 06 | Haryana | 25 | Daman and Diu (legacy) |
| 07 | Delhi | 26 | Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu |
| 08 | Rajasthan | 27 | Maharashtra |
| 09 | Uttar Pradesh | 28 | Andhra Pradesh (legacy) |
| 10 | Bihar | 29 | Karnataka |
| 11 | Sikkim | 30 | Goa |
| 12 | Arunachal Pradesh | 31 | Lakshadweep |
| 13 | Nagaland | 32 | Kerala |
| 14 | Manipur | 33 | Tamil Nadu |
| 15 | Mizoram | 34 | Puducherry |
| 16 | Tripura | 35 | Andaman and Nicobar Islands |
| 17 | Meghalaya | 36 | Telangana |
| 18 | Assam | 37 | Andhra Pradesh |
| 19 | West Bengal | 38 | Ladakh |
| 97 | Other Territory | 99 | Centre Jurisdiction |
GSTIN search and verification FAQs
What is GST number search?+
It is the process of checking a GST-registered taxpayer using GSTIN, UIN or PAN. The official result can show identity, registration status, dates, taxpayer type, address and filing information.
What is the full form of GSTIN?+
GSTIN stands for Goods and Services Tax Identification Number.
How many characters are in a GST number?+
A GSTIN contains 15 alphanumeric characters.
Can I verify GSTIN without login?+
Yes. Use Search Taxpayer by GSTIN or UIN on the official GST Portal and complete the captcha.
Can I search GST number by PAN?+
Yes. Search by PAN can display GST registrations linked to that PAN, with their State and status.
Can I search GST number by company name?+
Name-only results can be ambiguous. Obtain the GSTIN or PAN from the business, invoice or certificate and verify it on gst.gov.in.
How can I find PAN from GSTIN?+
Characters 3 to 12 of a normal PAN-based GSTIN contain the taxpayer's PAN.
What do the first two GSTIN characters mean?+
They are the State or Union Territory code of the registration. For example, 07 is Delhi, 19 is West Bengal, 27 is Maharashtra and 29 is Karnataka.
What does the 13th GSTIN character mean?+
It is commonly used as the registration sequence or entity character for the same PAN and State code.
What is the last GSTIN character?+
The 15th character is a checksum used to detect many data-entry errors.
Does a valid checksum mean the GSTIN is active?+
No. It only means the number is structurally consistent. Live status must be checked on the official GST Portal.
What details are visible without GST login?+
Public search can show GSTIN or UIN, legal name, trade name, registration date, constitution, principal place of business, taxpayer type, status, cancellation date and return filing details.
What does Active GSTIN status mean?+
It means the portal currently shows the registration as active. You should still check invoice dates, taxpayer type, filing and transaction evidence.
What does Suspended GSTIN status mean?+
It means the registration is not in normal active status, often during cancellation proceedings or another action. Check the effective date and obtain clarification.
What does Cancelled GSTIN status mean?+
The registration ended from the effective cancellation date shown. Compare that date with the invoice and check for later revocation or restoration.
Can one PAN have multiple GST numbers?+
Yes. GST is State or Union Territory based, and separate registrations may exist in permitted cases.
Can a Composition taxpayer charge GST on an invoice?+
A Composition taxpayer generally issues a bill of supply and cannot collect tax as a normal taxable supplier. Verify taxpayer type before accepting the document.
Does an Active GSTIN guarantee input tax credit?+
No. ITC depends on all applicable conditions, including valid documents, receipt of supply, supplier reporting, GSTR-2B or IMS treatment, tax payment and return filing.
How do I check GST return filing status?+
Search the GSTIN on the official portal, choose Show Filing Table, select the financial year and review the displayed forms and filing dates.
Why does GST search show no record?+
The number may be mistyped, structurally invalid or not linked to a granted registration. Recheck the document and use Search by PAN.
How can I report GSTIN misuse of my PAN?+
Use Search Taxpayer by PAN, select the unknown registration, choose Report and complete the identity verification requested by the portal.
Is GST number public information?+
Basic GST registration details are available through the official public Search Taxpayer service. Additional fields require login.
Can the CompanyJi checker show legal name and status?+
No. It validates format and checksum locally. Open the official GST Portal for live taxpayer data.
Can CompanyJi help correct or obtain GST registration?+
CompanyJi can assist with GST registration, amendment, cancellation, return filing and practical review of registration or invoice issues based on your records.
Where the GSTIN rules and search fields were checked
The page distinguishes official portal data from local format validation and uses GST Portal and CBIC materials for the key search, format, invoice and ITC points.
Need help with GST registration or filing?
Share your business activity, State, turnover and GST issue. CompanyJi can help with registration, amendment, cancellation, return filing and practical compliance support.