If you did not know, the Goods and Services Tax Identification Number (GSTIN) is a term used to describe a 15-digit unique identification number that vendors and providers of goods and services receive upon GST registration.

Is it necessary to get a GST Number?

Certain situations will require you to get a GSTIN. Companies that have an annual turnover of Rs. 40 Lakh or more need to acquire a GSTIN. Companies that are situated in states that come under the special category have to get a GSTIN if their turnover is Rs. 20 Lakh or more.

Why is a GST number Essential?

The value of a GSTIN lies in the following reasons:

With the help of a GST number, you boost your chances of getting recognized as a legitimate goods and services provider. You need to make sure you pay taxes regularly and on time, to increase your credibility in the eyes of the market and government.

GST has made provisions for you to collect your Input Tax Credit (ITC). You may claim your ITC if you consistently make GST tax payments online in accordance with the GST rules.

The added advantage of having a GST number is that you can expand your market and use E-commerce and conduct inter-state supplies. E-commerce and inter-state supplies are the best ways to further your business. Make sure you pay the GST registration fees and register. If you need help, call the GST customer care.

What does the GST Number Structure look like?

The GSTIN format is as follows:

The starting two characters of the GSTIN represent your State Code
Your Personal Account Number (PAN) reserves the next ten characters of the GST number.
The two characters after that are reserved for the entity code
The last character of the GST Number is reserved for a checksum character

How to conduct online GST number verification?

There are many tools worth checking out if GST number verification is what you are looking for.

ClearTax

Clear Tax for GST helps you search the given GST number and confirm it quickly. All you have to do is enter your GSTIN and click on the search button. After you verify it, you should not have an issue viewing the details like date of registration, legally registered name of the business, the constitution of the business, type of taxpayer, and other important information.

KnowYourGST

KnowYourGST is a popular tool that gives you the bulk GSTIN search and the GSTIN verification API features. You can use almost 150 API calls during the trial period. Once the trial period is over, you will have to pay for it. The free version of KnowYourGST allows you to confirm up to five GST numbers simultaneously.

TaxAdda

TaxAdda is another widely used tool that allows you to check if a given GSTIN exists or not. If the GST number does exist, you may verify its structure and authenticity with the help of the 15-digit format. However, know that this tool incorporates all these details from the GST portal online and makes use of the government’s Application Programming Interface (API). You will find the following details:

The legal business name
Business status
Registration date
Type of business
Address
Type of Entity
Trade name
Type of dealer

What are the steps of GST Number Verification?

Given how many companies generate fake GST numbers and fake GST invoices to evade tax, it is vital to verify your GST number and the GSTIN of the company you intend to do business with. The process of GST number verification is reasonably straightforward. Here’s how you do it: