GST Number Search: How to Verify Any GSTIN Online (2026)
A two-minute check on the official GST portal tells you whether a supplier's GSTIN is genuine, active and filing returns — before their invoice costs you input tax credit.
Official portal: GST Portal (GSTN)
Indus Tax is a private CA firm, not affiliated with the Government of India. This guide explains the official process; we never ask for your portal password.
Why verify a supplier's GST number
Your input tax credit depends on the supplier being validly registered, reporting the invoice in GSTR-1 and paying the tax. A cancelled, suspended or fake GSTIN on a purchase invoice can cost you the credit, and bogus-invoice cases are a major focus of GST enforcement. Checking a new vendor before the first payment avoids this.
How to search a GST number on the GST portal
No login is needed:
- 1Open gst.gov.in.
- 2Click Search Taxpayer > Search by GSTIN/UIN.
- 3Enter the 15-character GSTIN and the captcha, then click Search.
- 4Review the legal name, trade name, effective date of registration, constitution of business, GSTIN status, taxpayer type and principal place of business.
- 5Click Show Filing Table to see which returns the taxpayer has filed and when.
Search GST numbers by PAN
A business operating in several states has a separate GSTIN in each. Use Search Taxpayer > Search by PAN, enter the PAN and captcha, and the portal lists every GSTIN linked to that PAN with its state and status. The official portal does not offer search by business name — third-party sites that claim to are not official records.
How to read a GSTIN
Every GSTIN follows the same 15-character structure, which lets you spot obvious fakes:
| Characters | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1–2 | State code (36 Telangana, 37 Andhra Pradesh, 29 Karnataka, 27 Maharashtra) | 36 |
| 3–12 | PAN of the business | ABCDE1234F |
| 13 | Entity number for the same PAN in that state | 1 |
| 14 | Letter 'Z' by default | Z |
| 15 | Check character that catches typing errors | 5 |
What the GSTIN status means
The status decides whether the supplier's invoices can support your credit:
- Active — registration is valid; you can claim ITC if the other conditions are met
- Suspended — cancellation proceedings are pending and the taxpayer cannot make taxable supplies under that GSTIN
- Cancelled — invoices dated after the cancellation date do not support ITC
Composition taxpayers
A composition dealer pays tax at a fixed rate and cannot charge GST on invoices or pass on ITC. If a composition supplier's invoice shows GST, raise it with them. Use Search Taxpayer > Search Composition Taxpayer to see whether a GSTIN has opted in or out of the scheme.
Need expert help applying this to your situation?
Our CA team reviews your numbers and gives you a clear answer — usually within hours.
