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GSTIN checker: how it works
15 characters: a 2-digit state code, the 10-character PAN of the business, 1 character for the registration number under that PAN in the state (1 to 9, then A to Z), the letter Z by default, and a check character.
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GSTIN structure
| Characters | Meaning | Example (27AAPFU0939F1ZV) |
|---|---|---|
| 1–2 | State code | 27 = Maharashtra |
| 3–12 | PAN of the business | AAPFU0939F |
| 13 | Registration number under that PAN in the state | 1 |
| 14 | Z by default | Z |
| 15 | Check character | V |
How to use the GSTIN checker
- Paste or type the 15-character GSTIN.
- Read whether the format and check character are valid.
- Check the decoded state, PAN and holder type match the business.
- For live registration status, use the official GST taxpayer search.
GST state codes
| Code | State / UT | Code | State / UT |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Jammu and Kashmir | 20 | Jharkhand |
| 02 | Himachal Pradesh | 21 | Odisha |
| 03 | Punjab | 22 | Chhattisgarh |
| 04 | Chandigarh | 23 | Madhya Pradesh |
| 05 | Uttarakhand | 24 | Gujarat |
| 06 | Haryana | 26 | Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu |
| 07 | Delhi | 27 | Maharashtra |
| 08 | Rajasthan | 29 | Karnataka |
| 09 | Uttar Pradesh | 30 | Goa |
| 10 | Bihar | 31 | Lakshadweep |
| 11 | Sikkim | 32 | Kerala |
| 12 | Arunachal Pradesh | 33 | Tamil Nadu |
| 13 | Nagaland | 34 | Puducherry |
| 14 | Manipur | 35 | Andaman and Nicobar Islands |
| 15 | Mizoram | 36 | Telangana |
| 16 | Tripura | 37 | Andhra Pradesh |
| 17 | Meghalaya | 38 | Ladakh |
| 18 | Assam | 97 | Other Territory |
| 19 | West Bengal | 99 | Centre Jurisdiction |
What this checker does not cover
Special registrations such as tax deductors (TDS), tax collectors (TCS), non-resident online service providers and UN bodies use different formats and may not pass these checks. To confirm a registration is active, the legal name and the filing status, search the GSTIN on the official GST portal.
Questions people ask
What is the format of a GSTIN?
15 characters: a 2-digit state code, the 10-character PAN of the business, 1 character for the registration number under that PAN in the state (1 to 9, then A to Z), the letter Z by default, and a check character.
Does a valid result mean the GSTIN is registered?
No. This checks that the number is well-formed and the check character matches, which catches almost all typing mistakes. It does not confirm the registration is active or who holds it. Use the official search at services.gst.gov.in for that.
How is the GSTIN check character calculated?
Each of the first 14 characters is converted to a number (0–9, then A = 10 to Z = 35) and multiplied alternately by 1 and 2. Each product is split into quotient and remainder by 36 and both are added up. The check character is (36 − total mod 36) mod 36, converted back to a character.
What does the 4th character of the PAN tell me?
The type of holder: P individual, C company, H Hindu Undivided Family, F firm or LLP, A association of persons, T trust, B body of individuals, L local authority, J artificial juridical person, G government.
Why does the GSTIN matter on an invoice?
The buyer's input tax credit depends on your GSTIN, and theirs for B2B, being correct on the invoice and in your GSTR-1. A mistyped GSTIN means the credit does not show up for the buyer.