Free tool

GSTIN checker

Type or paste a GST number to check that it is correctly formed and see what it says: the state it is registered in, the PAN of the holder and the kind of business. The check runs in your browser.

This checks the format only: a GSTIN can be correctly formed and still be cancelled, suspended or never issued. To see the live registration status, legal name and address, verify it inside InDhanPay Books when you add the customer.

What a GSTIN is made of

A GSTIN (Goods and Services Tax Identification Number) is the 15-character number a business gets when it registers under GST. It is printed on every tax invoice, and a buyer needs the supplier’s correct GSTIN on the invoice to claim input tax credit. Each part means something:

Characters 1–2, state code. The GST code of the state or union territory where the business is registered, such as 23 for Madhya Pradesh or 27 for Maharashtra. A business registered in two states has two GSTINs.
Characters 3–12, PAN. The Permanent Account Number of the holder. Every GSTIN of a business carries the same PAN.
Character 13, entity number. How many registrations the same PAN has in that state: 1 for the first, 2 for the second, and after 9 the letters A to Z.
Character 14. “Z” by default for regular taxpayers.
Character 15, check digit. Calculated from the first 14 characters, so a mistyped number can be caught without looking anything up.

Why check a GSTIN before you bill

A wrong GSTIN on a B2B invoice causes trouble for both sides. The invoice you report in GSTR-1 will not reach the buyer’s GSTR-2B under their number, so they cannot claim the input tax credit, and you will be asked to amend the invoice. A format check catches most typing mistakes the moment the number is entered.

A correct format is not proof that the registration is live, though. Before a large sale on credit, or when you add a new supplier whose bills you will claim credit on, also confirm the status, legal name and address. In InDhanPay Books you can do that when you add a customer or vendor: enter the GSTIN and Books fills in the verified name and address for you.

Common GSTIN mistakes

The letter O typed instead of the digit 0, or I instead of 1.
Two neighbouring characters swapped while copying.
The state code of the head office used for a branch registered in another state.
A space or dash pasted in the middle (this checker removes those for you).

Making an invoice now? The free GST invoice generator checks each GSTIN as you type and fills in the state, and the GST invoice format guide lists everything else a tax invoice must show. To work out the tax itself, use the GST calculator.

Frequently asked questions

Does this tell me if a GSTIN is active?

No. It checks only that the number is correctly formed: the right length, a real state code, a PAN-shaped middle and a matching check digit. A well-formed GSTIN can still be cancelled or suspended. For the live status, legal name and address, look the GSTIN up on the GST portal, or verify it inside InDhanPay Books when you add the customer.

What is the check digit in a GSTIN?

The 15th character. It is calculated from the first 14 characters with a fixed formula, so a single mistyped character almost always makes it fail. That is why this checker can catch most typing mistakes without looking anything up.

How do I find the state from a GSTIN?

The first two digits are the GST state code: 07 is Delhi, 27 Maharashtra, 29 Karnataka, 33 Tamil Nadu, 09 Uttar Pradesh and so on. The checker shows the state as soon as you type the first two digits.

Is the PAN inside a GSTIN the business’s PAN?

Yes. Characters 3 to 12 are the PAN of the person or business that holds the registration. The 4th letter of the PAN shows the kind of holder, for example P for an individual, C for a company and F for a firm or LLP.

Why does a valid-looking GSTIN fail here?

Usually a typing mistake: O typed for 0, I for 1, or two characters swapped. Some special registrations, such as those of tax deductors (TDS) or UN bodies and embassies (UIN), use a different pattern in characters 3 to 14, so this checker, which is built for regular GSTINs, reports them as not matching.

Verify GSTINs and bill in one place

Add customers by GSTIN in InDhanPay Books: the verified name and address fill in, and every invoice gets the right GST.

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