GST

What the 15 characters of a GSTIN mean

Updated . Every paid answer is checked by a CA. Free AI answers are labelled until a CA verifies them.

Find

A GSTIN has 15 characters: the first 2 are the state code, the next 10 are the business's PAN, the 13th is the entity number for that PAN in the state, the 14th is usually Z, and the 15th is a check digit.

Provisions

Sec 25, CGST Act 2017

Analysis

A Delhi business would start with 07, a Maharashtra one with 27. If a Delhi restaurant's bill shows a GSTIN starting with 29 (Karnataka), ask why. Characters 3 to 12 should look like a PAN: 5 letters, 4 digits, 1 letter. A wrong pattern means a fake or mistyped number.

Close

  1. Check the first two digits against the state you are in.
  2. Check that characters 3 to 12 follow the PAN pattern.
  3. Verify the full number on Search Taxpayer.
  4. Question bills that fail these checks.

Connect now

A Savvy replies in minutes.

Fixed price before you pay. Your Savvy is paid only after you accept the work.

General guidance from TaxSavvy’s library of money processes. Laws change; your Savvy confirms the answer on your exact case before anything is filed.