GST Number Search: Free GSTIN Verification Tool

Verifying a GST number in India can be slow and easy to get wrong. Whether you are onboarding a new vendor, entering an invoice, or filing returns, checking GSTINs one by one on the government portal is tedious, with a fresh CAPTCHA for every single lookup. At the same time, skipping the check is risky, as fake or cancelled GSTINs can lead to blocked Input Tax Credit (ITC), invoice fraud, and penalties during audits.

RegisterKaro's free GST number search tool simplifies this process and lets you verify any GST number in just a few clicks. You can search by GSTIN, PAN, or business name, all from a single page, and the tool fetches live details directly from GST systems. That means the results are current enough to rely on for vendor verification, ITC claims, invoicing, and GST return filing.

What is GSTIN (GST Identification Number)?

GSTIN, short for Goods and Services Tax Identification Number, is the unique 15-digit PAN-based number allotted to every person registered under GST in India. It acts as the GST identity of a business, much like a PAN serves as the income-tax identity of a taxpayer. Every registered business must quote its GSTIN on all tax invoices, GST returns, e-way bills, and e-invoices.

A single PAN can hold multiple GSTINs. A business receives a separate GSTIN for each state or Union Territory it operates in, and can hold more than one within the same state for multiple places of business. Each such registration is treated as a distinct person under Section 25(4), so supplies between branches are taxable.

So one company may legitimately have several GST numbers, each linked to the same PAN. If you don't have a GSTIN yet, you can obtain one through our GST registration service.

GST Number / GSTIN Format (15-Digit Breakdown)

Every GSTIN follows a fixed 15-character alphanumeric format, and each part carries a specific meaning. Knowing this structure helps you quickly check whether a GST number is genuine.

For example, in the GSTIN 27ABCDE1234F1Z5:

• Characters 1–2: State code of the registered person (27 = Maharashtra)
• Characters 3–12: PAN of the registered person (ABCDE1234F)
• Character 13: Entity number - how many registrations that PAN holds in that state. Runs 1–9, then A–Z, so up to 35 registrations
• Character 14: Z for regular taxpayers. It is D for TDS deductors under Section 51 and C for TCS collectors under Section 52, so not every GSTIN carries a Z
• Character 15: Check code, a base-36 checksum calculated from the first 14 characters, used to detect typing errors

How the GSTIN Check Digit Works

The 15th character is a base-36 checksum calculated from the first 14. Each character maps to a value (0–9 → 0–9 and A–Z → 10–35), is multiplied by alternating weights of 1 and 2, and the quotient and remainder of each product divided by 36 are added together. The check digit is (36 − sum mod 36) mod 36, mapped back to a character.

What this means in practice: A GSTIN with a wrong check digit is definitely a typo. But a correct check digit only proves the number is well-formed. This is a sign to identify when fraudsters generate checksum-valid fake GSTINs routinely. Only a live lookup confirms the registration actually exists and is active.

How to Do a GST Number Search in 3 Steps Using Our Tool

Searching a GST number with RegisterKaro's tool is simple and takes only a few seconds. Follow these three quick steps to verify any taxpayer and view their complete GST details instantly:

Step 1: Enter the GST Number or PAN

Type the 15-digit GSTIN into the search box to look up a specific taxpayer. If you don't have the GSTIN, you can switch modes and search by the business's PAN. Use this option when you only have the PAN details of a supplier, customer, or business. Enter the details and submit the request to view the available GST registration information.

Step 2: Click Search

Once you've entered the details, click the search button. Unlike the government portal, there's no login to create and no captcha to solve, so your results appear straight away. The tool connects to live GST data to fetch the most current information available for that taxpayer.

Step 3: View and Verify the Details

The tool instantly displays the taxpayer's full GST profile, so you can confirm the number is genuine and active before you proceed. The details you receive include:

• Legal name and trade name of the business
• GSTIN / UIN status (Active, Cancelled, or Suspended)
• Date of registration and, if applicable, date of cancellation
• Constitution of business (proprietorship, partnership, private limited company, etc.)
• Taxpayer type (Regular, Composition, etc.)
• Principal and additional places of business
• State and Centre jurisdiction

What does the Status Mean: Active, Cancelled, Suspended?

The GST status shown in a search result tells you whether a registration can currently be relied on. Check the status before using a GSTIN for invoicing, vendor verification, or ITC claims.

• Active: The GST registration is currently valid. You can use the GSTIN for business transactions, subject to other compliance requirements.
• Cancelled: The registration is no longer valid. Cancellation may be voluntary, where the taxpayer requests cancellation, or suo-moto, where the GST authorities cancel it. Do not use a cancelled GSTIN for new taxable transactions or ITC claims.
• Suspended: The registration is temporarily suspended, usually while an application, cancellation, or departmental proceeding is being processed. Verify the current status before transacting with the taxpayer.
• Provisional: The registration has been issued provisionally and may require further verification or completion of the registration process. Confirm the current status before relying on the GSTIN.
• Inactive: The GST registration is not currently active for use. Do not rely on it for new invoices or ITC until its status is confirmed or restored.

A GSTIN that passes the format or checksum test is not necessarily active. Always check its current registration status before using it for business transactions.

How to Search GST Number on the GST Portal?

Besides using a search tool, you can verify a GST number directly on the official government portal maintained by the GST Network (GSTN). The portal is the primary source of GST registration data, and it's free to use for anyone who wants to confirm a taxpayer's details. If you have the 15-digit GSTIN in hand, here's how to run a GSTIN search on gst.gov.in:

• Visit the portal: Go to the official GST portal at gst.gov.in.
• Open Search Taxpayer: Click on the "Search Taxpayer" tab in the top menu, then select "Search by GSTIN/UIN."
• Enter the GSTIN: Type the complete 15-digit GST number into the search box.
• Solve the captcha: Enter the captcha code shown on the screen to confirm you're not a bot.
• View the results: Click Search to see the taxpayer's details, including their legal name, trade name, registration status, date of registration, constitution of business, taxpayer type, and jurisdiction.

The portal also lets you search by PAN under the same "Search Taxpayer" section, which is useful when you want to see every GSTIN linked to a single PAN.

While the official portal is accurate, it is slower due to CAPTCHA, single GSTIN search, and no business-name lookup. RegisterKaro’s GST search tool removes these limits, letting you search by GSTIN, PAN, or company name on one page with no login or CAPTCHA while still using live GST data. Many businesses use it for quick vendor checks and turn to the portal for official records.

GST Number Search by Name (Company or Trade Name)

When you have an invoice, a quotation, or a business card but no GSTIN, you can run a GST number search by name. Select "Search by Name" in the tool above, type the company's legal name or trade name, and our tool returns every matching GSTIN with its state and current status.

The GST portal does not offer name-based search; it only accepts a GSTIN, UIN, PAN, or temporary ID. RegisterKaro's name search runs using publicly available GSTIN records, so ensure to confirm the GSTIN against gst.gov.in before you claim ITC against it.

GST No. Search by Company Name

A GST number search using a company name helps when you are:

• Confirming a new vendor is genuinely registered before releasing a purchase order
• Finding the GSTIN of a customer who has asked for a B2B invoice but not supplied one
• Checking a bidder's registration during tender or empanelment due diligence
• Locating your own GSTIN for a state you registered in but rarely file from

Tips for better results: use the legal name as registered on the PAN, not the brand name, when the two differ. Add the state to narrow results; large groups often hold 15–20 registrations under near-identical names. If the legal name returns nothing, try the trade name, and vice versa.

GST Number Search by PAN

Every GSTIN is built on the taxpayer's PAN, so you can find a business's GST registration using just its PAN. Since one PAN can hold multiple GSTINs, one for each state a business operates in, a PAN search reveals a business’s complete GST footprint across India.

With RegisterKaro's tool, switch to the "Search by PAN" mode, enter the 10-character PAN, and instantly view every GST number linked to it, along with each one's status. A GST number search by PAN is useful for:

• Finding all your own registrations in one place, across every state.
• Tracking a multi-state vendor's GSTINs to confirm the right one for each location.
• Spotting fraud, checking whether any fake GST registration has been taken out against your PAN.

How to Search GST Number by PAN on the GST Portal?

You can also search by PAN on the official GST portal in a few steps:

• Visit the GST portal at gst.gov.in.
• Click "Search Taxpayer," then select "Search by PAN."
• Enter the 10-character PAN and the captcha, then click Search.
• View all GSTINs registered under that PAN, each with its state and registration status.

GSTIN Verification: Why It Matters

Verifying a GST number before you rely on it protects your business from financial and legal risk. A GSTIN might look valid but actually be fake, cancelled, or mistyped, and the consequences of not checking fall on you, not the supplier. Here's why it matters:

• Confirm a vendor's authenticity: Verify that a supplier or taxpayer is genuinely GST-registered before entering into a deal or transaction.
• Avoid fraud: Detect fake or invalid GSTINs used in fraudulent invoices before they cost you money or trigger penalties.
• File accurate GST returns: Verifying GSTINs before you enter them in your GSTR-1, e-invoices, and e-way bills helps avoid the mismatches and errors that complicate GST return filing.
• Check unclear invoices: Confirm a handwritten or hard-to-read GSTIN on an invoice against the official record.
• Claim the correct ITC: Verify that GSTINs on purchase invoices are valid and active to avoid ITC denial or reversal. A July 2026 Supreme Court ruling, Commissioner Grade 2 v. Safecon Lifescience, held that ITC cannot be denied to a genuine buyer solely because a supplier's registration was later cancelled.

The buyer must have proper invoices, e-way bills, transport proof, and banking-channel payment records. Dated GSTIN verification strengthens this documentation trail. Use our GST calculator to calculate invoice tax.

Details You Get from a GST Number Search

When you search a valid GST number on RegisterKaro's GST search tool, it returns a complete profile of the taxpayer, pulled from official GST records. These details let you confirm exactly who you're dealing with and whether their registration is genuine and active. Here's what a RegisterKaro GST number search shows:

Detail	What It Tells You
Legal Name of Business	The registered legal name of the taxpayer, as per PAN records.
Trade Name	The brand or trade name the business operates under, if different from the legal name.
GSTIN / UIN Status	Whether the registration is Active, Cancelled, or Suspended.
Date of Registration	The date the GSTIN was granted.
Constitution of Business	The type of entity, proprietorship, partnership, private limited company, LLP, etc.
Taxpayer Type	The registration category, such as Regular, Composition, or Casual Taxpayer.
Principal Place of Business	The main registered address of the business.
Additional Places of Business	Any other locations registered under the same GSTIN.
State & Centre Jurisdiction	The tax jurisdiction (state and central) the taxpayer falls under.
Details of Return Filed	GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B filing history by tax period
Field Visit Conducted	For when the department physically verified the premises
Date of Cancellation	If the registration is cancelled, the date it took effect.

Verifying these details before a transaction helps you avoid fake invoices, protect your Input Tax Credit, and stay compliant when preparing invoices. It also ensures you use the correct HSN code for each product or service.

How to Spot and Report a Fake GST Number?

Fake GST numbers are used on fraudulent invoices to charge GST that's never paid to the government, or to claim illegitimate ITC. If you unknowingly accept a fake GSTIN, you could face rejected ITC, penalties, and scrutiny during audits. A quick check on RegisterKaro's GST search tool helps you catch a fake number before it costs you.

Here's how to identify a fake or invalid GST number:

• Check the format: A genuine GSTIN is always 15 characters in the correct structure (state code + PAN + entity number + Z, or D/C for TDS/TCS + check digit). If it doesn't match this format, it's not valid.
• Match the PAN: The 10 characters in positions 3–12 should match the supplier's PAN. A mismatch is a clear warning sign.
• Verify the status on RegisterKaro: Enter the number into RegisterKaro's GST search tool to check its live status. If it shows as Cancelled, Suspended, or returns no result, don't rely on it.
• Cross-check the name and state: Confirm that the legal name and state code returned by the RegisterKaro tool match the business on the invoice. Fraudsters often use a real-looking number registered to a different entity.

If you come across a fake or suspicious GSTIN, you can report it to the authorities:

• Self-service GST portal: Raise and track a grievance ticket at selfservice.gstsystem.in. This is now the primary channel, as the old GST helpdesk email has been discontinued.
• Helpline: Call the GST helpline at 1800-103-4786 to report the fraudulent number.

Benefits of Using RegisterKaro's GST Search Tool

RegisterKaro's GST number search tool is built to make verification fast, simple, and reliable. Here's what makes it a convenient choice for verifying any taxpayer:

• Completely free: Search and verify as many GST numbers as you need, at no cost and with no hidden charges.
• Instant results: Get a taxpayer's full details in seconds, without waiting or navigating multiple pages.
• Three ways to search: Look up a business by GSTIN, PAN, or company name, all from a single tool, so you can search with whatever information you have.
• Live, accurate data: Results are pulled from official GST systems, so you always see the most current registration status and details.
• No login or captcha: Start searching straight away, without creating an account or solving a captcha for every check.
• Works on any device: Verify GST numbers from your desktop, laptop, or mobile, wherever you are.
• One place for everything: View the legal name, status, address, jurisdiction, and more in a single, easy-to-read result.