You can check whether any business is registered under GST — and whether that registration is still active — free on the GST portal, using its GSTIN or PAN. This guide shows both searches, explains what each field in the result means, and lists the red flags that should stop you from paying a supplier's GST invoice.
You'll see the business's legal name, trade name, registration date, constitution (proprietorship, partnership, company and so on), GSTIN status, taxpayer type, principal place of business and nature of business. Click Show Filing Table to see whether its recent returns were filed.
A business gets a separate GSTIN for each state it operates in. To see all of them:
The result lists each GSTIN registered against that PAN, with its state and status. This is useful when a supplier quotes from one state but invoices from another. It is also how to do a GST firm or establishment search when all you have is the business's PAN.
Can you search GST by company name? Not on the official portal. Search by GSTIN or PAN. Third-party "GST by name" sites are often out of date, so confirm anything important on gst.gov.in.
| Status | Meaning | Safe to claim ITC on its invoices? |
|---|---|---|
Active | Registration is valid. | Yes, if the invoice also appears in your GSTR-2B |
Suspended | Cancellation proceedings are pending, or the registration was suspended for non-compliance. | Hold payment of GST until it is resolved |
Cancelled | Registration no longer exists from the cancellation date. | No, for invoices after that date |
Inactive / Provisional | Old or incomplete registration. | Ask the supplier for a current GSTIN |
Also check the taxpayer type. A Composition taxpayer is not allowed to charge GST. If one sends you an invoice with GST added, don't pay the tax portion.
Every GSTIN has 15 characters in a fixed pattern:
| Characters | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 1–2 | State code (e.g. 10 Bihar, 27 Maharashtra, 29 Karnataka, 07 Delhi) |
| 3–12 | PAN of the business |
| 13 | Entity number for that PAN in that state (1 for the first registration) |
| 14 | "Z" by default |
| 15 | Check character |
Quick sanity checks: the state code should match the supplier's address on the invoice, and characters 3–12 should be the same PAN the supplier gave you. A typo usually fails the portal search outright.
You can claim input tax credit (ITC) only if the supplier is validly registered and reports your invoice in its GSTR-1, so that it appears in your GSTR-2B. An invoice from a cancelled or fake GSTIN costs you the credit, and the department can recover it with interest.
So before paying a new supplier, and periodically for regular ones, check three things: the status is Active, the returns are being filed, and the legal name matches the invoice. Our free GST compliance check tool pulls the filing status for you.
If you're the one who needs a GSTIN, TaxQue handles GST registration. If yours is suspended or cancelled, see GST revocation.
This article is published by TaxQue (ARB FinTech LLP) for general informational, educational, and business guidance purposes only. Tax laws, GST rules, MCA circulars, and judicial precedents are subject to frequent statutory revisions. This content does not constitute formal individualized tax, accounting, or legal counsel.
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