GST number search: how to verify a GSTIN
Before you pay a supplier’s invoice with GST on it, check that the GSTIN is real and active. Credit on an invoice from a cancelled or fake registration is lost, and the check takes under a minute on the government portal.
Reviewed by Vijay Dhawan, Managing Partner, LexVerge LLP, on · Published
Quick answer
Go to gst.gov.in, open Search Taxpayer and choose Search by GSTIN/UIN; enter the 15-character GSTIN and the captcha. No login is needed. The result shows the legal and trade name, status (active, suspended or cancelled), date of registration, taxpayer type and return filing. If you only have the business’s PAN, use Search by PAN to list its GSTINs. The portal has no search by business name.
The four searches on the GST portal
| Option | Use it to |
|---|---|
| Search by GSTIN/UIN | Verify a GSTIN on an invoice or quotation and see the registration details |
| Search by PAN | Find every GSTIN registered under a PAN, one per state |
| Search Composition Taxpayer | Check whether a supplier is under the composition scheme and cannot charge GST |
| Search by Temporary ID | Look up a temporary registration |
What the 15 characters mean
| Characters | Meaning | Example: 07ABCDE1234F1Z5 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 and 2 | State code | 07 = Delhi |
| 3 to 12 | PAN of the business | ABCDE1234F |
| 13 | Number of the registration under that PAN in the state | 1 = first registration |
| 14 | Z by default | Z |
| 15 | Check character | 5 |
Common state codes: 07 Delhi, 06 Haryana, 09 Uttar Pradesh, 08 Rajasthan, 24 Gujarat, 27 Maharashtra, 29 Karnataka, 33 Tamil Nadu, 36 Telangana, 37 Andhra Pradesh, 32 Kerala, 19 West Bengal. A GSTIN whose state code does not match the supplier’s address, or whose PAN does not match the PAN on the invoice, needs an explanation.
Five checks before you pay a supplier
- The status is Active, not cancelled or suspended.
- The legal or trade name matches the invoice.
- The state code matches the place of supply on the invoice.
- The supplier is not a composition taxpayer charging GST it cannot charge.
- Returns are being filed: an invoice that never reaches your GSTR-2B gives you no input tax credit.
Need your own GSTIN? Our GST registration fees guide explains what it costs, which is nothing in government fees.
Frequently asked questions
How do I verify a GST number?
On gst.gov.in choose Search Taxpayer, then Search by GSTIN/UIN, enter the GSTIN and the captcha. No login is needed.
Can I search a GST number by business name?
Not on the official GST portal. Search by GSTIN, or by PAN to list the GSTINs registered under it.
How do I find a GST number from a PAN?
Use Search by PAN under Search Taxpayer on gst.gov.in. It lists every GSTIN registered under that PAN, one for each state.
What does the GSTIN status mean?
Active means the registration is valid. Suspended or Cancelled means the supplier cannot issue tax invoices on which you can claim input tax credit.
How many digits is a GST number?
Fifteen characters: a two-digit state code, the ten-character PAN, an entity number, the letter Z by default, and a check character.
GST Registration from ₹299, by a CA.
REG-01 filed with Aadhaar authentication and clarification replies handled, by a CA.
Professional fee shown; government charges at actuals, quoted in writing before you pay. GST at 18% extra.
See what is included and the full priceNeed a GSTIN of your own?
We file your GST registration with Aadhaar authentication and handle the officer’s queries, for ₹299.
Keep reading.
GSTR-2B explained
The auto-drafted ITC statement, the 14th-of-the-month cycle, IMS actions, and a reconciliation routine that works.
Read guide→GuideGST Registration Fees in India: Government Fee, CA Charges and What Changes the Price
The government fee is nil. What CAs and platforms actually charge in 2026, what pushes the price up, and what an all-inclusive quote should cover.
Read guide→Official references
The statutory sources behind this page. We keep our guidance aligned to them: verify anything time-sensitive directly.
- Ministry of Corporate AffairsCompanies Act filings, forms and fee schedules
- Income Tax DepartmentReturns, forms, rates and e-filing utilities
- GST PortalRegistration, returns and rate notifications
Facts on this page are checked against these sources; the date of the last check is shown at the top of the page. It is general guidance, not advice on your specific facts. How we write and check our guides.