GST number search & GSTIN verification
Paste any GST number to check whether it's genuine. We validate the check digit and decode the state, PAN and entity type behind it — instantly, free, and without sending your data anywhere.
Runs in your browser. Nothing is sent to a server or stored.
How to read a GSTIN
Take 18AABCU9603R1ZM. Every block means something:
| Position | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 1–2 | 18 | State code — 18 is Assam |
| 3–12 | AABCU9603R | PAN of the registered person |
| 13 | 1 | How many registrations this PAN holds in this state |
| 14 | Z | Fixed 'Z' for standard taxpayers |
| 15 | M | Check character, calculated from the first 14 |
Why you'd check a supplier's GSTIN
Input tax credit is the practical reason. You can only claim credit on a purchase if your supplier is genuinely registered and actually files the return reporting that invoice. If the GSTIN on an invoice is fabricated, or belongs to a registration that has been cancelled, the credit you claimed gets reversed — and the cost lands on you, not on them.
Checking the number takes seconds. Recovering a reversed credit takes considerably longer.
GST state codes
GST number questions
What does a GST number actually mean?+
A GSTIN is 15 characters and every part carries information. The first two digits are the state code. The next ten are the holder's PAN. The thirteenth shows how many registrations that PAN holds in that state. The fourteenth is 'Z' for almost everyone. The fifteenth is a check character calculated from the other fourteen.
How can I tell if a GST number is fake?+
The check character is the giveaway. It is derived mathematically from the preceding fourteen characters, so a made-up GSTIN almost never produces a matching check digit. This tool recalculates it — if it doesn't match, the number is either mistyped or fabricated.
Does a valid structure mean the business is legitimate?+
No, and this is worth being clear about. A structurally valid GSTIN means the number was issued in a correct format and hasn't been mistyped. It does not tell you whether the registration is still active, whether it has been cancelled, or that the business behind it is trading honestly. For status and legal name, look the taxpayer up on the official GST portal.
Why does the state code matter?+
GST registration is state-specific. A business operating in three states holds three GSTINs against the same PAN. If a supplier gives you a GSTIN whose state code doesn't match where they're actually supplying from, that's worth a question — it affects whether the invoice should carry CGST/SGST or IGST.
Can I find a GST number from a company name?+
Not through this tool. Searching by name requires the official GST portal's taxpayer search, which queries live government records. This tool works offline in your browser, which is why it's instant and private — but it means it validates a number you already have rather than looking one up.
Need a GST number of your own?
Government fee is ₹0. We prepare and file the application, check every document before submission, and handle any clarification the department raises. GSTIN in 3–7 working days.