A Goods and Services Tax Identification Number (GSTIN) is a unique 15-digit alphanumeric code assigned to every taxpayer registered under the GST regime in India. The GSTIN helps the government to track the tax transactions and compliance of the taxpayers.
The GSTIN is composed of the following elements:
- The first two digits represent the state code as per the Indian Census 2011. For example, 27 for Maharashtra and 09 for Uttar Pradesh.
- The next ten digits are the PAN (Permanent Account Number) of the taxpayer.
- The thirteenth digit is assigned based on the number of registrations a taxpayer has within a state. It can be any number from 1 to 9 and alphabets from A to Z.
- The fourteenth digit is Z by default.
- The fifteenth digit is a check code that can be a number or an alphabet.
Why verify GSTIN?
GSTIN is like a unique ID for businesses under the GST system. It helps keep track of their GST payments and compliance. Plus, it is essential for claiming input tax credit and refunds. Checking the validity of GSTIN is crucial for various reasons, including:
- It helps you check the authenticity and validity of the GSTIN of your suppliers or customers and avoid associating with fake or fraudulent dealers
- It helps you ensure that you are generating accurate invoices with the correct GSTIN of your recipients and avoid any errors or penalties in filing GST returns
- It helps you ensure that you are claiming the correct input tax credit based on the GSTIN of your suppliers and avoid any mismatch or reversal of credit
Steps to verify GSTIN
To check and verify your GSTIN, you can follow these steps:
- Visit the official GST portal at [www.gst.gov.in]
- On the homepage, click on the search taxpayer tab and select search by GSTIN/UIN from the drop-down menu
- Enter your GSTIN number in the search box and click on search
- If your GSTIN number is valid, you will see the details of the taxpayer, such as legal name, trade name, address, date of registration, status, and tax type
Verifying your GSTIN is important to ensure that you are dealing with genuine and compliant taxpayers. It also helps you to avoid any penalties or notices from the tax authorities. You can easily verify your GSTIN number online using the official GST portal or other websites or apps that offer GSTIN verification services.
