Enter a GST number below to check two things at once: whether the number itself is valid, and whether the registration behind it is currently active.
Valid and active are two different questions
A GST number check has two layers, and mixing them up causes real mistakes. Validity asks: could this 15-character string be a GSTIN at all? Status asks: is the registration behind it alive today? A number can be perfectly valid in format yet belong to a cancelled registration — and an invoice against it is still a problem. Our tool answers both in one search.
The checksum, explained without the maths
The fifteenth character of every GSTIN is a check digit computed from the first fourteen. Each of those characters is converted to a number (0–9 stay as they are, A–Z become 10–35), the values are weighted alternately, summed, and the remainder against 36 determines what the final character must be. The practical consequence: if any single character is mistyped — a 0 read as O, an 8 entered as B — the check digit almost certainly stops matching, and the number can be declared invalid without any database lookup at all.
That is why our checker validates format first and only then queries the registration record. An “invalid format” result means the string could never be a GSTIN; there is nothing to look up. If you want to see where each character sits and why, the GST number format guide walks through the structure using the example 27AAPFU0939F1ZV.
What each GST status means — and what to do
| Status | What it means | What you should do |
|---|---|---|
| Active | The registration is live. The taxpayer can issue tax invoices, collect GST and file returns. | Proceed — but still match the legal name on the result to the name on the invoice. An active GSTIN belonging to someone else is a classic fraud pattern covered under GST verification. |
| Cancelled | The registration has been ended — either voluntarily (business closed, restructured, fell below the threshold) or by the department (non-filing, fraud, non-existence at the registered address). | Do not accept fresh tax invoices against this GSTIN. For past invoices, check whether the supply date falls before the cancellation date and speak to your tax advisor about any input tax credit already claimed. |
| Suspended | An in-between state: cancellation proceedings are underway, or the taxpayer has applied to cancel. During suspension the taxpayer is generally barred from making taxable supplies and issuing tax invoices. | Treat it as amber, close to red. Hold payments where you can, ask the supplier what is going on, and re-check the status before the next transaction — suspensions either resolve back to Active or harden into Cancelled. |
Quick self-checks before you even search
- Exactly 15 characters — no spaces, no hyphens.
- First two characters are digits and form a real state code (compare against the GST state code list).
- Characters 3–12 look like a PAN: five letters, four digits, one letter. If the supplier’s PAN is on file, it should match exactly — and you can pull every registration on that PAN with GST search by PAN.
- Character 14 is Z in virtually all current registrations.
No GSTIN at hand at all? Start from the business name instead with GST search by name, or learn the fundamentals in what is a GSTIN.
GST number check FAQs
The tool says “invalid format”. Does that mean the business is fake?
Not necessarily — it means the string you entered cannot be a GSTIN. The most common cause is a typo or an OCR error from a scanned invoice. Re-check each character against the source document, especially 0/O, 1/I and 8/B, and search again.
Can a cancelled GST number become active again?
Yes, in limited circumstances. A taxpayer whose registration was cancelled by the department can apply for revocation within the prescribed window, and a suspension can be lifted once the underlying issue is resolved. That is why re-checking status at the time of each transaction matters more than a one-time check.
What is the difference between Suspended and Cancelled?
Suspended is provisional — proceedings are pending and the outcome is open. Cancelled is final unless revoked. In both cases, be cautious about accepting tax invoices; the table above sets out the practical steps for each.
Why do I need the check digit if I’m querying the database anyway?
Speed and noise. Checksum-invalid numbers are rejected instantly without a lookup, which keeps results fast and filters out the large share of queries that are simply typos. It also means an “not found” result is meaningful: the format was fine, but no such registration exists.
Does an Active status guarantee the supplier files returns on time?
No. Active means the registration is live, not that compliance is perfect. Persistent non-filing tends to lead to suspension and then cancellation, so status is a good proxy over time — but for high-value relationships, ask the supplier for filing evidence as part of vendor verification.