🧾 Plain-English GST help for small businesses

GST Guides: search, verify and understand any GSTIN

Check a supplier's GST number before you pay, read what the official search result means, and know what to do when a GSTIN is cancelled. The official GST Search Taxpayer page is free; our guides show you how to use it well.

Find and verify a GSTIN

Look up any GST number on the official portal and read the result.

GST Number Search Search options on the GST portal and what you get How to Verify a GST Number Screen-by-screen steps and error fixes GSTIN Verification Online Every verification method compared

Active, suspended or cancelled

What each status means and what to do when a GSTIN is not active.

GSTIN Status Check Active, suspended, cancelled: what each status means Active or Cancelled? What to do when a GSTIN is not active

Checks for invoices, payments and suppliers

Practical checklists for accounts teams and small business owners.

Check GSTIN Before Payment Pre-payment checklist for supplier invoices Verify GSTIN on an Invoice What a valid tax invoice must show Check a Supplier's GSTIN Vendor onboarding and periodic re-checks

Understand the GSTIN

The 15 characters, the state codes, and how a GSTIN relates to registration.

GSTIN Format & State Codes 15 characters decoded, with state code table GSTIN vs GST Registration Number vs registration, explained simply

Official links

These are official government websites and numbers. Apply and pay only here. Last checked: 4 October 2026

Frequently asked questions

Where can I check a GST number for free?

On the official GST portal's Search Taxpayer page at services.gst.gov.in. Enter the GSTIN and the captcha; no login or fee is needed.

What does a GSTIN search show?

The registered business behind the number: legal name, trade name, effective date of registration, constitution of business, taxpayer type, jurisdiction and status, with the cancellation date where applicable.

What is the 20 rupee GSTIN report?

An optional SarkariSewa India service. It checks the GSTIN format for free, then for 20 rupees shows the status, legal and trade name, registration date, taxpayer type, constitution and place of business in a report you can save as PDF. It is not a government fee or certificate.

How many characters does a GSTIN have?

15: a 2-digit state code, the 10-character PAN, a 2-character entity code and 1 checksum character, as set out in rule 10 of the CGST Rules, 2017.

Is SarkariSewa India a government website?

No. SarkariSewa India is an independent information portal. The official GST portal is the final reference for GST records.

SarkariSewa India is an independent website, not the GST portal or a government department. GST information here was checked against the CGST Act, the CGST Rules and official GST sources on 4 October 2026.