GSTIN checker
How to read a GSTIN
Every GSTIN is built the same way. Take 33ABCDE1234F1Z7:
- Characters 1 and 2 are the state code: 33 is Tamil Nadu, 27 Maharashtra, 07 Delhi.
- Characters 3 to 12 are the PAN of the business. Its fourth letter says who holds it: C a company, P an individual, F a firm, H a Hindu undivided family. Its fifth letter is the first letter of the surname or of the business name.
- Character 13 counts the registrations this PAN has in that state: 1 for the first, 2 for the second, then A for the tenth and onwards.
- Character 14 is always Z.
- Character 15 is the check digit, worked out from the other fourteen. One wrong character almost always changes it, which is how a typing mistake is caught.
What this checker can and cannot tell you
- Catch a mistyped or made-up GSTIN before it goes on an invoice, a purchase order or a KYC form.
- Show which state the registration belongs to and what kind of business holds the PAN.
- Check a whole list, for example every supplier in your purchase register, and give you a CSV of the problems.
- Say whether the registration is active, suspended or cancelled today.
- Show the legal name, trade name or address. For those, use the government search linked from the result.
Questions about GSTIN verification
What is a GSTIN?
A GSTIN (Goods and Services Tax Identification Number) is the 15-character number every business registered under GST in India receives. It is built from the state code, the business's PAN, a registration count, the letter Z and a check digit, and it must appear on every tax invoice.
How do I verify a GST number?
Two steps. First, check the structure here: the format and the check digit catch almost every typing mistake at once, with no captcha. Second, for the legal name and whether the registration is active, open the government's Search Taxpayer page from the result and paste the number there.
What does each character of a GSTIN mean?
Characters 1 and 2 are the state code, 3 to 12 the PAN, 13 the number of registrations this PAN has in that state, 14 is always Z, and 15 is a check digit computed from the other fourteen.
What is the check digit in a GSTIN?
The last character is calculated from the first fourteen with a fixed formula published by GSTN: each character is turned into a number, weighted alternately by 2 and 1 from the right, and the remainders are added up. If any character is typed wrongly, the expected check digit changes, so the mistake shows.
Can a GSTIN pass this check and still be fake?
Yes. Anyone can make up a number with a correct check digit. A passing result means the number is well formed, not that it belongs to the business in front of you. Before paying a new supplier, confirm the legal name and the active status on the GST portal.
Why does the checker say "special registration"?
Some GSTINs do not carry a PAN in the middle: tax deductors and collectors (TDS and TCS), non-resident online suppliers, and UIN holders such as embassies and UN bodies. Their numbers still carry a correct check digit, so the checker reports them as special rather than wrong.
How do I check many GSTINs at once?
Open "Check a list", paste a column from Excel or a CSV file (up to 1,000 numbers), and press Check all. You get a count of valid and problem numbers, a table with the state and PAN type of each, and a CSV download you can file with your purchase register.
Is anything I type stored?
No. The check runs inside your browser and nothing is sent to Bael Trade or anyone else. Your last few checks are remembered on your own device so you can reopen them, and you can clear that list at any time.
This tool checks the structure of a number as published by GSTN. It is not a substitute for the GST portal's search or for professional advice.