GST Verification Guide · FY 2025-26

GST Number Search —
Verify Any GSTIN Online

Search and verify any GSTIN free on the official portal — check the business name, state, registration type, status and filing history before you claim Input Tax Credit.

No login required Free on gst.gov.in GST Expert Reviewed

Search GSTIN on GST Portal See GSTIN structure

15Digits in a GSTIN

2State-code digits

10PAN characters

FreeOn the GST portal

Quick Answer

Search and verify any GSTIN free on the official portal — taxpayersearch.gst.gov.in. Enter the 15-digit GSTIN, complete the captcha, and view the legal name, trade name, state, registration type, date of registration and current status. No login is required. Always verify a supplier's GSTIN before claiming Input Tax Credit.

Portal taxpayersearch.gst.gov.in

GSTIN length 15

Cost Free

Step-by-step

How to Search & Verify a GSTIN

The GST taxpayer search is public — anyone can verify a GST number in under a minute, without logging in.

Open the portalGo to taxpayersearch.gst.gov.in

→

Enter GSTINType the 15-digit GST number

→

Solve captchaComplete the captcha & search

→

View detailsName, state, type & status shown

A valid GSTIN is 15 characters: 2-digit state code + 10-char PAN + 1 entity digit + Z + 1 check digit.
The search shows the legal name, trade name, state, registration type, principal place of business, date of registration and current status.
You can also search by PAN at gst.gov.in → Services → Search Taxpayer → Search by PAN to find all GSTINs linked to a PAN.

Need a GSTIN of your own or help fixing registration details?

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15-digit breakdown

GSTIN Structure — What Each Digit Means

Every GSTIN follows a fixed 15-character format. Example: 27ABCDE1234F1Z5 — a first registration in Maharashtra for PAN ABCDE1234F.

Position	Characters	Meaning	Example
1–2	2 digits	State code (01–38)	27
3–12	10 chars	PAN of the taxpayer	ABCDE1234F
13	1 char	Entity number (1 = first registration in that state)	1
14	1 char	Default value Z (reserved)	Z
15	1 char	Check digit (computed, alphanumeric)	5

A structurally wrong GSTIN (bad state code, wrong length, invalid check digit) will fail on the portal.

A valid format is not the same as an active GSTIN

A GSTIN can be well-formed yet Cancelled or Suspended. Always confirm the live status on the portal — a correct-looking number on an invoice does not guarantee the supplier is currently registered or ITC-eligible.

First two digits

Common State Codes in a GSTIN

The first two digits of any GSTIN identify the state or UT of registration. A business registered in multiple states has one GSTIN per state, each with its own state code.

Code	State / UT	Code	State / UT
01	Jammu & Kashmir	19	West Bengal
03	Punjab	20	Jharkhand
06	Haryana	21	Odisha
07	Delhi	23	Madhya Pradesh
08	Rajasthan	24	Gujarat
09	Uttar Pradesh	27	Maharashtra
29	Karnataka	32	Kerala
33	Tamil Nadu	36	Telangana

State codes follow the Indian Census 2011 numbering; codes run 01–38 across states and UTs.

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Active / Cancelled / Suspended

GSTIN Status — What Each One Means

The portal shows a live status for every GSTIN. This is the single most important field when you verify a supplier, because it decides whether their invoices carry valid ITC.

Status	Meaning	ITC Impact
Active	Registration is valid and operational; supplier can issue valid GST invoices.	Yes — subject to GSTR-2B match
Cancelled	Registration cancelled — voluntarily or by the officer for non-compliance.	No — on invoices after the cancellation date
Suspended	Temporarily inactive, usually during inquiry or a compliance review.	Risky — avoid accepting invoices while suspended

Registration threshold: ₹40 lakh (goods) / ₹20 lakh (services); ₹20L / ₹10L for special-category states.

Why verify

Verify Supplier GSTINs Before Claiming ITC

Under Section 16 of the CGST Act, you can claim Input Tax Credit only if the supplier has actually paid the tax and the invoice appears in your GSTR-2B. If a supplier's GSTIN is cancelled — or they never file GSTR-1 — your ITC is at risk of reversal with 18% interest under Section 50.

GSTIN is 15 characters & well-formed
Status is Active (not Cancelled/Suspended)
State code matches the supplier's state
Legal / trade name matches the invoice
PAN in GSTIN matches the supplier PAN
Supplier is filing GSTR-1 / GSTR-3B
Invoice appears in your GSTR-2B
Keep a dated screenshot for your records

TaxClue Insight

Make GSTIN verification a purchase-onboarding step, not an afterthought. Checking status and filing history before you pay a new vendor is the cheapest way to protect your ITC and avoid Section 16 / 17(5) disputes later.

Government sourcesTaxpayer search: taxpayersearch.gst.gov.in · GST portal: gst.gov.in · CBIC: cbic-gst.gov.in · ITC conditions: Section 16 & blocked credits Section 17(5), CGST Act 2017

Frequently Asked Questions

Search & Verify

How do I check if a GSTIN is valid?

Go to taxpayersearch.gst.gov.in, enter the 15-digit GSTIN, complete the captcha and click Search. If the number is valid and active, the portal shows the registered business name, state, registration type, principal place of business and current status (Active / Cancelled / Suspended). A quick structural check: a valid GSTIN is 15 characters — a 2-digit state code (01–38), a 10-character PAN, one entity digit, the letter Z, and a check digit.

Is GST number search free and does it need a login?

Yes, it is completely free and no login or registration is required. The GST taxpayer search at taxpayersearch.gst.gov.in is a public service — anyone can verify any GSTIN. You only need the 15-digit GST number and to solve a captcha.

What information does a GSTIN search show?

A GSTIN search shows the legal name of the business, trade name (if different), state of registration, registration type (Regular, Composition, Input Service Distributor, Non-Resident, etc.), principal place of business, date of registration, current status (Active/Cancelled/Suspended) and whether the taxpayer opted for the Composition Scheme. Recent GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B filing status is also visible.

How can I find the GSTIN of a supplier?

You can find a supplier GSTIN from their GST invoice (GSTIN is mandatory on every GST invoice), their GST registration certificate, or the GST portal. If you only know the PAN, use gst.gov.in → Services → Search Taxpayer → Search by PAN to list all GSTINs linked to that PAN. A business may hold multiple GSTINs — one per state it is registered in.

Can I search a GSTIN by PAN?

Yes. On gst.gov.in go to Services → Search Taxpayer → Search by PAN, enter the 10-character PAN and captcha, and the portal lists every GSTIN registered against that PAN along with the state and status of each. This is useful when a business operates in several states.

GSTIN Structure

What is the structure of a 15-digit GSTIN?

A GSTIN is 15 characters: positions 1–2 are the state code (01–38), positions 3–12 are the PAN of the taxpayer, position 13 is the entity/registration number in that state, position 14 is the default letter Z, and position 15 is a computed check digit. Example: 27ABCDE1234F1Z5 is the first registration in Maharashtra (27) for PAN ABCDE1234F.

What do the first two digits of a GST number mean?

The first two digits are the state code showing where the business is registered — for example 07 is Delhi, 27 is Maharashtra, 29 is Karnataka, 33 is Tamil Nadu and 24 is Gujarat. The codes range from 01 to 38 across all states and union territories, following the Census 2011 numbering.

What is the 13th digit in a GSTIN?

The 13th character is the entity/registration number — it shows how many registrations a PAN holder has taken within the same state. 1 means the first registration, 2 the second, and so on (it can run 1–9 then A–Z), allowing up to 35 registrations per PAN per state, such as separate business verticals.

Can two businesses have the same GSTIN?

No. Every GSTIN is unique. Because it embeds a specific PAN plus state code and entity number, no two taxpayers can share a GSTIN. A single PAN holder registered in multiple states will have a different GSTIN for each state, but each number is still unique.

Status & Compliance

What does Cancelled status mean in a GSTIN search?

A Cancelled status means the GST registration has been cancelled — either voluntarily by the taxpayer (business closed or turnover below threshold) or by the officer for non-compliance such as non-filing of returns. A cancelled GSTIN cannot issue valid GST invoices, and Input Tax Credit is not available on invoices dated after the cancellation date.

What does Suspended status mean?

Suspended means the registration is temporarily inactive, usually pending an inquiry or a compliance review before a possible cancellation. During suspension the taxpayer cannot make taxable supplies or issue tax invoices, so you should avoid accepting invoices from a supplier whose GSTIN shows Suspended.

Can I check a supplier's GST return filing status?

Yes. After entering a valid GSTIN on the portal you can see whether the taxpayer has filed recent GSTR-3B and GSTR-1 returns. A supplier's GSTR-1 filing is critical for ITC — only when the supplier files GSTR-1 do their invoices appear in your GSTR-2B, which is a condition for claiming Input Tax Credit under Section 16.

Why should I verify a GSTIN before claiming ITC?

Under Section 16 of the CGST Act, ITC can be claimed only if the supplier has paid the tax and the invoice reflects in your GSTR-2B. If the supplier GSTIN is cancelled, fake, or they never file GSTR-1, your ITC can be denied or reversed later with 18% interest under Section 50. Verifying the GSTIN status and filing history before you pay protects that credit.

Did GST 2.0 change how GSTIN search works?

No. The GST 2.0 rationalisation effective 22 September 2025 restructured tax rates into a two-slab system (5% and 18%, with a 40% demerit rate) but did not change the GSTIN format or the taxpayer search facility. GSTINs remain 15 characters and verification continues to be free on taxpayersearch.gst.gov.in with no login.

Is a GST number the same as a GSTIN?

Yes. GSTIN stands for Goods and Services Tax Identification Number, and in everyday use people call it the GST number. It is the unique 15-digit identifier issued to every business registered under GST, and it is what you enter in the taxpayer search to verify a registration.

Done-for-you

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