GST Number Search by PAN: Complete Guide 2026

How many times has it happened that a new vendor brought you an invoice with GSTIN written on it, and you thought "is this number correct or made up"? I have been doing GST consulting in Jaipur for the last several years, and this question comes to me at least two to three times every week. A textile trader from Sanganer had asked me last month that he needed to check the GSTIN of a new supplier, but he only had a copy of the PAN card; the GSTIN was not found.

This is where "GST Number Search by PAN" comes in. It's an official feature provided by the GST portal itself, absolutely free, without any login required. In this article, I'll walk you through step-by-step how this process works, what's legal, what's not, and what advice I give my clients as a consultant.

Quick Summary

GST Number Search by PAN is a public facility of the GST portal (gst.gov.in) that provides the list of GSTINs linked to any PAN.
This feature is absolutely legal because GSTIN registration data is a public record; unlike RTI, it is directly available on the portal.
No login required. Just your PAN number and captcha.
Multiple GSTINs can be generated from one PAN, as GST is a state-wise registration system.
You can also do searches related to GSTIN, business name, mobile number, or Aadhaar, but all have their own limitations, which we will see in detail later.
This tool is most commonly used for vendor verification, identifying fake invoices, and finding false registrations in your own name.

What is GST Number Search by PAN?

GST Number Search by PAN is a facility where you can view all the active and inactive GSTINs of any taxpayer by entering their 10-digit PAN. As per the GST law, a PAN holder can have different GSTINs in different states, and sometimes can have multiple registrations for different business verticals in the same state.

This search is not just a verification tool, but also a transparency mechanism. The government wants to maintain trust in business-to-business transactions, so the basic details of every registered taxpayer have been made public.

Expert Tip: I always tell my clients to match their GSTIN and PAN before accepting an invoice. The 3rd to 12th digits of the GSTIN are the PAN, so if they don't match, understand something is wrong.

Why People Search GST Number Using PAN

Verifying the background of a new supplier or vendor
Confirming whether the GSTIN given on the purchase invoice is genuine or not
Checking the vendor's registration status before claiming ITC (Input Tax Credit)
Check if there is any fraudulent GST registration against your own PAN
Business due diligence, such as before a partnership or investment
CAs and tax practitioners to view the compliance history of their clients
Bank loan ya tender process mein counterparty verification

Can Anyone Search GST Number by PAN?

Yes, absolutely. This facility is open to anyone, whether they are a registered taxpayer or not. You don't need to create an account on the GST portal. Simply go to the website, select the "Search by PAN" option in the "Search Taxpayer" section, enter your PAN, enter the captcha, and you will get the result.

Important Note: This public search returns only basic registration details - legal name, GSTIN, state, and status. Detailed financial data such as turnover, e-way bill history, or cash tax payment percentage is available only after login, that too in limited scenarios.

Is GST Number Search by PAN Legal?

It's absolutely legal. GST registration data, as defined in the CGST Act and its rules, is a public record. The registration process occurs under Section 25, and upon registration, basic taxpayer details are made public to ensure transparent transactions.

This is not a privacy violation because:

Only business-related information is displayed, not personal financial details
The government itself has designed this facility for public use.
Its sole purpose is to increase trust in business transactions.

Yes, let me make one thing clear – misusing this data (such as for harassment or identity theft) would be illegal, but searching for genuine business verification is completely legal.

Official Government Methods

There are three official ways to search for taxpayers on the GST portal:

Method	What do you want	What do you get?
Search by GSTIN/UIN	15-digit GSTIN	Legal name, status, registration date, filing history
Search by PAN	10-digit PAN	All GSTINs linked to that PAN, their state and status
Search Composition Taxpayer	GSTIN or State	Composition scheme status

Warning Box: Trust only gst.gov.in. Many third-party websites claim to offer "GST search," but some may display outdated or incorrect data. Always use the official portal for legal verification.

Step-by-Step Process with GST Portal

Open www.gst.gov.in in the browser
Go to the "Search Taxpayer" menu on the homepage
Select "Search by PAN" in the dropdown
Enter the 10-digit PAN of that business or individual
Type the captcha given on the screen
Press the "Search" button
The result will show all the GSTINs linked to that PAN, their state, and registration status.

Process Flow (simplified):
gst.gov.in → Search Taxpayer → Search by PAN → Enter PAN + Captcha → Search → View GSTIN List

Search GST Number by PAN (Complete Guide)

When you search by PAN, the result will be a table that contains each GSTIN along with its state code, registration status (Active/Cancelled/Suspended), and GSTIN number. Let's take a client example - suppose a trading company operates in both Jaipur and Delhi. Searching by the PAN of that company will show two GSTINs, one for Rajasthan (08) and one for Delhi (07).

Expert Tip: If you see a GSTIN listed that you didn't obtain yourself, file a complaint immediately. The portal itself provides a "Select to Report" checkbox to flag fraudulent registrations.

Search GST Number by Business Name

A clarification is needed here - the official GST portal does not directly provide a "search by business name" option. Many third-party sites offer this feature because they scrape public data to build their database, but the government portal only allows searching by PAN, GSTIN, or UIN. If you only have the company name, the most accurate way would be to ask for the PAN or GSTIN from them, or use a verified GSP (GST Suvidha Provider) tool, but be sure to cross-verify the data from the official portal.

GST Number Search by GSTIN

This is the most direct method. If you already have a GSTIN and just want to confirm it's genuine, use the "Search by GSTIN/UIN" option. This method is the fastest because there's no ambiguity - one GSTIN, one result.

GST Number Search by Mobile Number (Reality)

Let me be clear - there is no official feature to search GSTIN directly by mobile number on the GST portal. Many paid tools claim this, but their data source is ultimately the GSTN database, which they have collected through some other means (like registered contact details). So if a tool says "search by mobile number", understand that it is often showing results by matching the number of a registered contact person, and is not an official government feature.

GST Number Search by Aadhaar (Reality)

Similarly, direct GSTIN search using Aadhaar is also not available on the official government portal. Aadhaar is used only for authentication in the registration process (such as Aadhaar-based OTP verification in new registrations), but it is not possible to retrieve GSTIN by entering Aadhaar number as a public search feature, nor will it be allowed due to privacy reasons.

GST Number Search by PAN for Companies

In the case of companies, a PAN generally represents a single legal entity, but operations in different states can result in multiple GSTINs. By entering the company's PAN, you can view all state-wise registrations, which is very useful during mergers, acquisitions, or vendor onboarding.

GST Number Search for Proprietorship

In proprietorship businesses, the owner's individual PAN is the business PAN, as the proprietorship is not a separate legal entity. Therefore, the proprietor's personal PAN will be used when searching.

GST Number Search for Partnership Firm

A partnership firm has its own PAN, which is issued in the firm's name, different from the individual PANs of the partners. When searching for a firm's GSTIN, use the firm's registered PAN.

GST Number Search for LLP

An LLP (Limited Liability Partnership) also has its own distinct PAN, which is issued at the time of registration with the ROC (Registrar of Companies). The LLP's PAN is used to find the LLP's GSTIN, not those of the individual designated partners.

GST Number Search for Private Limited Company

A Private Limited Company's PAN is allotted along with its Certificate of Incorporation. This is the company's permanent identification number, and all of the company's state-wise GSTINs are linked to this PAN.

GST Number Search for Trust

Trusts, whether charitable or private, if eligible for GST registration (i.e., making taxable supplies), also have a separate PAN in the name of the trust, which is used for the search.

GST Number Search for NGO

NGOs registered as a Section 8 company, society, or trust are required to obtain GST registration using their registered entity PAN if their turnover crosses the threshold or they carry out taxable activities. The search process remains the same.

GST Search for E-commerce Sellers

GSTIN verification is even more important for e-commerce sellers, as marketplaces (like Amazon, Flipkart) require mandatory GSTIN from sellers at the time of onboarding. Both buyers and marketplaces can confirm the registration status of the seller by conducting a PAN-based search, especially in case of bulk purchases or B2B deals.

GST Active Status Check

The most important step is to check the "Status" column in the GST search results. Status can be of three types:

Status	Matlab
Active	Registration is valid, taxpayer is regularly compliant, meaning jata is valid.
Cancelled	Registration has been cancelled, either voluntarily or by order of the department
Suspended	Registration is temporarily on hold, often due to non-filing or pending cancellation

Consultant's Opinion: I always say, just having a valid GSTIN isn't enough. It's equally important that the status is active; otherwise, your ITC claim could be rejected.

GST Registration Verification

While verifying the registration, not only the status, but also check whether the legal name matches the business invoice or not, and whether the constitution of the business (proprietorship, partnership, company) is being correctly reflected or not.

GSTIN Structure Explained

A GSTIN is a 15-digit alphanumeric number. Its structure is something like this:

PAN and GSTIN Relationship

The PAN is the core of the GSTIN. Digits 3 through 12 of the GSTIN are exactly the PAN. This makes it possible to search for a GSTIN using a PAN because the system appends the state code and entity number to the PAN.

GSTIN Format Explained with Example

Suppose a Jaipur-based trader has a PANABCDE1234F. If they are registered in Rajasthan, their GSTIN will look something like this:

Here 08 is the state code of Rajasthan, ABCDE1234F is their PAN, 1 is the first registration entity number, "Z" is the default, and "5" is the checksum digit.

Common Mistakes

Practical Example

A client, who runs a wholesale cloth business in Bikaner, was about to receive a bulk order from a new supplier. He searched the supplier's PAN on the GST portal. The result showed two GSTINs - one active from Rajasthan, and one cancelled from Gujarat. The client immediately asked the supplier why the Gujarat registration was cancelled and found out that the old branch had been closed. This simple verification gave the client clarity, and he confidently went ahead with the deal.

Real Case Study

A CA colleague of mine, practicing in Jodhpur, had received a notice of an ITC mismatch from one of his clients. Investigation revealed that the GSTIN of the vendor from whom they had made the purchase appeared to be correct, but the GSTIN was actually linked to a different PAN, meaning the number was fake; only the digits matched. If the client had done a PAN-based search beforehand, this mismatch could have been avoided. After this case, we made it standard practice for all our clients to cross-verify both the PAN and GSTIN of every new vendor before accepting the invoice.

Consultant's Opinion

My personal advice: Whether you're a small trader or a large corporate, create a simple SOP for vendor onboarding - collect both GSTIN and PAN, verify on the portal, and keep a screenshot of the result for your records. It's a small step but can save you a lot of ITC disputes and department notices in the future.

Latest GST Rules (2026)

Following the GST 2.0 reforms, which came into effect from September 2025, the government has placed an increased focus on compliance and transparency. The portal's search functionality is also undergoing periodic improvements, such as faster response times and better mobile compatibility. It is important to always check the latest circulars and portal updates on CBIC and gst.gov.in, as procedural details are updated over time.

Relevant Sections of CGST Act

Conclusion

GST Number Search by PAN is a simple yet powerful tool that every business owner, CA, and consultant should know. It not only helps with vendor verification but also protects your own compliance. Whether in Jaipur or anywhere else, I always teach my clients this: take two minutes and verify both PAN and GSTIN before accepting an invoice. This small habit can save you from big disputes.

FAQs

Position	Represents
1-2	State code (e.g. 08 for Rajasthan)
3-12	PAN of the taxpayer
13	Entity number (for multiple registrations on the same PAN)
14	Default "Z"
15	Checksum digit

Author: This article is prepared with inputs from Sanju Meena, Digital Marketer and SEO Executive at LegalDev Tax India Pvt. Ltd., who works on GST compliance content and search strategy for gstfilling.co.

GST Number Search by PAN: The Complete 2026 Guide for Businesses and Consultants