GST Number Search 2026
Paste any 15-character GSTIN to verify its format and check digit instantly, decode the state, embedded PAN and entity number, and jump to the official gst.gov.in search for the live registration status.
15/15 characters. Spaces and hyphens are ignored, lowercase is fine.
Structurally valid ✓
- State (code 27)
- Maharashtra
- PAN embedded
- AAPFU0939F
- PAN holder type
- Partnership Firm
- Entity number within state
- 1
- Check digit
- V
The official portal asks for a captcha and then shows the live registration status, legal name and trade name for this GSTIN.
Note: structural validation confirms the number is correctly formed. It does not prove the GSTIN is actively registered - a business may have surrendered or lost its registration. Always confirm live status on the official portal before claiming input tax credit.
What a GSTIN is and why you would search one
Every business registered under GST gets a 15-character Goods and Services Tax Identification Number (GSTIN). It appears on every tax invoice, and your input tax credit depends on the supplier's GSTIN being genuine and active. A quick GST number search before you pay a new vendor, accept a large invoice or file returns saves you from fake invoices, typos that block credit, and suppliers whose registration has been cancelled.
This tool does the first half of that search: it confirms the number is correctly formed, down to the mathematical check digit, and decodes what each part claims. The second half, confirming the registration is actually live, happens on the official portal, and the button above takes you straight there.
The 15-character anatomy of a GSTIN
Using the sample number 27AAPFU0939F1ZV (state Maharashtra, PAN AAPFU0939F):
| Positions | Meaning | In the sample |
|---|---|---|
| 1-2 | State code of the place of registration | 27 = Maharashtra |
| 3-12 | The holder's PAN (5 letters, 4 digits, 1 letter) | AAPFU0939F (F in 4th place = partnership firm) |
| 13 | Entity number: which registration of this PAN within the state | 1 = first registration |
| 14 | Always the letter Z (reserved by GSTN) | Z |
| 15 | Check digit computed from the first 14 characters | V |
How the check digit works in plain language
The 15th character is not random. Each of the first 14 characters is converted to a number (0-9 stay as digits, A-Z become 10-35), every second one is doubled, the digits of each product are summed in base 36, and the final character is whatever brings the grand total to a multiple of 36. It is the same idea as the Luhn check on card numbers, extended to letters. The practical effect: change any single character of a real GSTIN and the check digit no longer matches, so this tool catches almost every typo and most invented numbers immediately, with no lookup needed.
Why a structurally valid number can still be inactive
Passing the structure check means the number could exist; it does not mean it does, or that it is still in force. Registrations get surrendered when businesses close, cancelled by the department for prolonged non-filing, or suspended during proceedings. A fraudster can also compute a valid check digit for a number that was never issued. If you are checking whether a supplier's registration is healthy or your own application has been approved, see our guide to checking GST status in 2026.
How to verify live status on gst.gov.in, step by step
- Open the official Search Taxpayer page at services.gst.gov.in/services/searchtp (the button in the tool above links there directly).
- Paste the 15-character GSTIN. The format check you ran here means it will be accepted.
- Type the captcha shown and submit. No login is needed for this search.
- Read the result: legal name, trade name, registration date, taxpayer type, and most importantly the status, which should say Active.
- Cross-check that the legal name matches the party on your invoice. A real, active GSTIN belonging to someone else is a classic fake-invoice pattern.
If you need to log in for return-related checks, our walkthrough of the GST portal login covers it. New businesses that do not yet have a GSTIN can start with the GST registration guide. If you only know a supplier's PAN, the GST number search by PAN tool derives the candidate GSTIN per state, and for invoice maths the GST calculator handles the 2026 slabs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a GSTIN?
GSTIN stands for Goods and Services Tax Identification Number. It is the unique 15-character registration number every GST-registered business in India receives, printed on invoices and required for claiming input tax credit. The number encodes the state of registration, the holder's PAN, an entity number and a check digit.
How do I check if a GST number is genuine?
Two steps. First, run it through a structure check like the one on this page: the format, state code and check digit must all be correct, which catches most fake or mistyped numbers instantly. Second, confirm live status on the official portal at services.gst.gov.in (Search Taxpayer), which shows the legal name, registration date and whether the GSTIN is Active. Only the official portal can confirm a registration actually exists.
Can I find a GST number by company name?
Not from the number alone, and not from this tool. The GST portal does not offer a public name-based search either. If you know the company's PAN you can use the portal's Search by PAN option (or our GST number search by PAN tool) to list its registrations. Otherwise ask the business for its GSTIN - it is legally required to display it on invoices and at its premises.
What does each character of a GSTIN mean?
Characters 1-2 are the state code (27 = Maharashtra, 07 = Delhi, 29 = Karnataka and so on). Characters 3-12 are the holder's 10-character PAN. Character 13 is the entity number, counting that PAN's registrations within the state. Character 14 is always the letter Z. Character 15 is a check digit calculated from the first 14 characters.
Why does a valid-looking GSTIN show as inactive on the portal?
A GSTIN keeps its structure forever, but the registration behind it can change. The business may have closed and surrendered the registration, the department may have cancelled it for non-filing, or the registration may be suspended pending proceedings. That is exactly why this page checks structure only and sends you to gst.gov.in for the live status before you rely on the number.
Is there an official API for GSTIN verification?
GSTN exposes verification APIs, but only through licensed GST Suvidha Providers (GSPs) and registered e-invoice/e-way bill integrations, not as a free public endpoint. Businesses that need bulk verification typically subscribe through a GSP. For occasional checks, the free Search Taxpayer page on gst.gov.in is the official route.