How do I verify a GST number online?

Go to the official GST portal at gst.gov.in, open the Search Taxpayer menu, and choose Search by GSTIN or UIN. Type the 15-digit GST number, complete the captcha, and submit. The portal shows the registered legal and trade name, the state, the registration date, the taxpayer type, and whether the status is Active or Cancelled. If the number is genuine those details will match the business you are dealing with. If nothing is found, the GSTIN does not exist.

Can I search a GST number by company name?

Not directly on the portal by free-text name in most cases, because the official Search Taxpayer tool is built around the GSTIN or the PAN. What you can do is search by PAN to list every GSTIN registered against that PAN across states. Many third-party sites offer a name-based lookup, but treat their results as a starting point and always confirm the final GSTIN on the official gst.gov.in portal, since that is the only authoritative source.

How can I tell if a GSTIN is fake?

A genuine GSTIN is 15 characters long and follows a fixed structure: two digits for the state, ten characters of the PAN, one entity digit, the letter Z, and a check character. If the length or pattern is wrong, it is invalid on its face. Even when the format looks right, the number must exist on the GST portal and show as Active with a name that matches the seller. A well-formatted number that returns no record, or shows a different name, is not to be trusted.

Why should I verify a supplier's GST number before paying?

Your input tax credit depends on the supplier being genuinely registered and filing returns. If you pay a party whose GSTIN is fake, cancelled, or belongs to someone else, you can lose the credit on that purchase and face questions later. Verifying takes under a minute and confirms the business is real, registered in the right state, and active. For any new supplier or a large first order, checking the GSTIN before you release payment is basic protection.

What does it mean if a GSTIN status shows Cancelled?

A Cancelled status means the registration is no longer valid, either because the taxpayer surrendered it or the department cancelled it. A cancelled GSTIN should not be issuing tax invoices with GST charged on them. If a supplier gives you an invoice with a cancelled GSTIN, do not treat it as a valid GST purchase, because you cannot claim input tax credit against it. Ask the supplier for their current registration status before proceeding with the transaction.

GST Number Verification: How to Check Any GSTIN Online (2026)

A GST number is the single most important identity a registered business carries, and yet most buyers pay invoices without ever checking whether the number on them is real. Verifying a GSTIN takes less than a minute on the official government portal, and it tells you whether the party you are dealing with is genuinely registered, in which state, and whether their registration is still active. This guide explains what a GSTIN is, how its 15 digits are built, how to verify one step by step, how to search by company name, how to spot a fake or cancelled number, and why this small check protects your money and your input tax credit.

What a GSTIN actually is

GSTIN stands for Goods and Services Tax Identification Number. It is the unique 15-character code assigned to every business registered under GST in India. Every tax invoice a registered seller issues must carry their GSTIN, and it is the number the government uses to track the tax that business collects and pays. Because it is tied to the business PAN, a GSTIN is not something a genuine seller can easily fake without being traceable. That is exactly why checking it is worth the minute it takes.

The 15-digit structure, decoded

A GSTIN is not a random string. It follows a fixed pattern, and knowing the pattern lets you reject an obviously invalid number before you even open the portal:

Digits 1 and 2, state code: a two-digit number for the state or union territory where the business is registered, for example 27 for Maharashtra, 07 for Delhi, 29 for Karnataka.
Characters 3 to 12, the PAN: the ten-character Permanent Account Number of the business or person, so the GSTIN is anchored to a real tax identity.
Character 13, entity number: a digit or letter that shows how many registrations that PAN holds within the same state.
Character 14, the letter Z: a fixed placeholder that appears in almost every normal GSTIN.
Character 15, the check code: a single character calculated from the rest, used by the system to catch typing errors.

So a GSTIN like 27AABCU9603R1ZM reads as Maharashtra, then the PAN AABCU9603R, then the entity digit 1, then Z, then the check character M. If a number you are given is not 15 characters, does not start with a valid state code, or does not carry a recognisable PAN in the middle, it is invalid before any online check.

How to verify a GSTIN on the official portal

The only authoritative place to verify a GST number is the government portal itself. The steps are short:

Open the portal: go to gst.gov.in in any browser. You do not need to log in to search a GSTIN.
Find Search Taxpayer: in the top menu, open Search Taxpayer and choose Search by GSTIN or UIN.
Enter the number: type the 15-character GSTIN exactly, then complete the captcha and submit.
Read the result: the portal returns the legal name, trade name, state jurisdiction, date of registration, taxpayer type, and the current status.
Match the details: confirm the name and state match the business you are dealing with, and that the status reads Active.

That result page is the fact. If the portal finds no record for a number, that number is not a live GSTIN, no matter how convincing the invoice around it looks.

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How to search a GST number by company name

Many people want to go the other way: they have a company name and want its GST number. The official Search Taxpayer tool is built around the GSTIN or the PAN rather than a free-text name, so a pure name search is not always available directly. There are two reliable routes:

Search by PAN: if you know the business PAN, the portal can list every GSTIN registered against that PAN across all states, which is useful for a company that operates in several states.
Confirm a name lookup on the portal: third-party sites offer name-based search, but their data can be stale. Use them only to find a candidate GSTIN, then paste that number into the official portal to confirm the name, state, and status yourself.

The rule to remember is simple: a name search can point you toward a number, but only the official portal confirms it. Never accept a GSTIN purely on the word of a directory site.

How to spot a fake or cancelled GSTIN

Fraud with GST numbers usually takes one of a few forms, and each has a tell. Watch for these signs:

A cancelled GSTIN deserves special caution. It means the registration is no longer valid, so the party should not be charging GST on invoices at all. If you accept a tax invoice against a cancelled number, you cannot claim input tax credit on it. When a status shows Cancelled or Suspended, stop and ask the supplier for their current registration before you pay.

Why buyers should verify before paying

Verification is not bureaucratic box-ticking, it protects real money. Under GST, your right to claim input tax credit on a purchase depends on the supplier being genuinely registered and paying the tax they collect from you. If you pay a party whose GSTIN is fake, cancelled, or belongs to someone else, the credit on that purchase can be denied, and you effectively lose that tax amount. For a large first order with a new supplier, that can be a serious sum. Spending one minute to confirm the number is active and matches the business is cheap insurance. It also confirms you are dealing with a real, traceable entity rather than a fly-by-night operation.

Verifying your own GSTIN and keeping invoices clean

Verification runs both ways. Your customers will check your GSTIN too, so the number printed on your invoices must be correct, active, and shown clearly. A single typo in the GSTIN on your invoice can cost your customer their input tax credit and cost you the relationship. This is where using proper billing software matters, because it stores your GSTIN once and prints it correctly on every invoice, along with the right tax split. If you are setting up compliant invoices, our guide to GST billing software and the GST calculator walk through getting the numbers right the first time.

A quick verification habit for your business

Turn verification into a routine rather than a one-off. A few simple habits catch almost every problem:

Check new suppliers once: before the first payment to any new vendor, verify their GSTIN on the portal and save a screenshot of the result.
Re-check large orders: for a big purchase, confirm the status is still Active on the day, since registrations can be cancelled over time.
Match name and state: the name on the portal and the state code should line up with the party and the address on the invoice.
Keep your own GSTIN correct: print it accurately on every invoice so your customers pass their own checks.

None of this needs an accountant. It is a browser tab and a minute of attention that quietly removes one of the more common ways small businesses lose money on tax.

The bottom line

A GST number tells you whether a business is really registered, where, and whether it is still active, and all of that is a minute away on the official portal. Learn the 15-digit structure so you can reject bad numbers on sight, verify every new supplier before you pay, and keep your own GSTIN printed correctly so your customers keep their credit. IndiaCRM stores your GSTIN once and puts it on every GST invoice automatically, so your billing stays clean and checkable. See GST billing software, explore the full feature list, or get the mobile app and start billing today.