Quick answer: A GSTIN has 15 characters: a 2-digit state code, your 10-character PAN, an entity number, the letter Z, and a check character. Copy it from your GST registration certificate, check it on the GST portal, and read it back character by character before it goes on your GST Signboard.
What does each part of a GSTIN mean?
| Position | What it is | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1–2 | State code of the registration | 27 (Maharashtra) |
| 3–12 | PAN of the business | ABCFR1234K |
| 13 | Entity number for registrations under the same PAN in the same state | 1 |
| 14 | The letter Z (by default) | Z |
| 15 | Check character | a digit or letter |
The examples here are illustrative only. Always use the GSTIN printed on your own certificate.
Common state codes
27 Maharashtra, 24 Gujarat, 29 Karnataka, 07 Delhi, 33 Tamil Nadu, 36 Telangana, 09 Uttar Pradesh, 08 Rajasthan, 19 West Bengal, 23 Madhya Pradesh. The first two digits of your GSTIN must match the state where your place of business is registered.
How is a Proprietorship or Partnership GSTIN different?
Characters 3–12 are the PAN, and the 4th character of a PAN shows the type of holder:
- Proprietorship firm: the GSTIN is built on the proprietor's own PAN, so the 4th character is P.
- Partnership firm: the GSTIN is built on the firm's PAN, so the 4th character is F.
- Company: the 4th character is C.
This is a quick sense-check that the GSTIN you are printing belongs to the right business.
Which characters get printed wrong most often?
Signboard mistakes usually come from look-alike characters typed from a photo or a WhatsApp message:
- O (letter) and 0 (zero)
- I (letter) and 1 (one)
- Z and 2
- S and 5
- B and 8
Remember the pattern: positions 1–2 are always digits, the 14th character is always Z, and the PAN part follows five letters, four digits, one letter.
How do I check my GSTIN?
- Take the GSTIN from your registration certificate (Form GST REG-06), not from memory.
- Search it on the GST portal's Search Taxpayer page and confirm the legal name, trade name and status shown there.
- Read it aloud, character by character, against the certificate.
On the GST Signboard page, the form also checks the GSTIN format as you type and shows a warning if it doesn't look right.
Where else must my GSTIN appear?
Your GSTIN goes on your name board at every place of business (Rule 18 of the CGST Rules) and on every tax invoice you issue. See GST Signboard for Proprietorship & Partnership Firms and Things to Do After Receiving Your GST Registration Certificate.
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Frequently asked questions
Should the GSTIN have spaces or dashes on the board?
No. Print it as one continuous 15-character code after the label, for example "GSTIN: 27AADCZ1398L1ZO", so it matches your certificate exactly.
I have two shops in the same state. Is the GSTIN the same?
Usually yes. Additional places of business in the same state are added to the same registration, so each shop's board shows the same GSTIN. A separate registration in the same state would have a different 13th character.
My GSTIN changed after a change in constitution. Do I need a new board?
Yes. If your firm gets a new GSTIN, for example after converting from Proprietorship to Partnership, the board must show the new GSTIN. See Changed Your Name or Office?
This article is for general awareness and is not legal advice.