How a GSTIN is built
Every GST Identification Number (GSTIN) has 15 characters. Take 27AAOCM9194L2ZF:
| Characters | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 1-2 | 27 | State code (27 is Maharashtra) |
| 3-12 | AAOCM9194L | PAN of the business. Its 4th letter is the holder type: C company, P individual, F firm or LLP, H HUF, T trust, A AOP, G government |
| 13 | 2 | Entity number: this is the 2nd registration for this PAN in this state |
| 14 | Z | Z by default |
| 15 | F | Check character, computed from the first 14 |
Paste any GSTIN into the GSTIN search to decode and validate it.
Questions
How many characters are in a GSTIN?
A GSTIN has 15 characters: a 2-digit state code, the 10-character PAN, one entity number, the letter Z by default, and one check character.
Can I find the PAN from a GSTIN?
Yes. Characters 3 to 12 of a GSTIN are the PAN of the business or its owner.
What does the 13th character of a GSTIN mean?
It numbers the registrations one PAN holds in the same state: 1 for the first, 2 for the second, and so on, then letters after 9.
How is the GSTIN check digit calculated?
Each of the first 14 characters is converted to a number from 0 to 35, alternate characters are doubled, each product is split into quotient and remainder by 36 and added up, and the check character is whatever brings the total to a multiple of 36.