{"id":7366,"date":"2023-01-11T22:37:13","date_gmt":"2023-01-11T17:07:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/razorpay.com\/learn\/?p=7366"},"modified":"2025-02-27T12:22:40","modified_gmt":"2025-02-27T06:52:40","slug":"what-is-fake-gst-number","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/razorpay.com\/learn\/what-is-fake-gst-number\/","title":{"rendered":"What is a Fake GST Number? How to Verify the GSTIN?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The Government of India introduced the Goods &amp; Services Tax (GST) to simplify taxation and create a centralized one nation, one tax policy. As part of this policy, every business has to provide their registered GST Identification Number(GSTIN) whenever they charge tax to the end customer or on their invoice. But while GSTIN has created a secure and trusted environment for businesses and customers, there are also instances of some businesses duping or overcharging their customers with\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">fake GST numbers<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Fake <a href=\"https:\/\/razorpay.com\/learn\/what-is-gstin-all-you-know-about-your-15-digits-gstin\/\">GSTIN number\u00a0<\/a>on bills or invoices are becoming a problem for businesses, and it doesn&#8217;t just lead to the issue of overcharging customers but customers cannot claim GST rebate on their bills if it has a\u00a0fake GSTIN number. This article will show you how to check for\u00a0fake GST numbers\u00a0and stay safe from fraudulent activities.<\/p>\n<h2><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Structure of a GSTIN<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The first step to identifying a\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">fake GST number<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0is to know the structure of a GSTIN number. To make it easy to spot\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">fake GSTIN numbers<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, the government allocates GSTIN to businesses based on a particular framework. This framework for GSTIN will be as follows:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The first 2 digits represent the state code as per the Indian Census. Every state or union territory has a unique code (01-35). For example, 07 is the state code for Delhi, while 27 is the code for Maharashtra<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The next ten digits are the PAN number of the business entity or the taxpayer.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The thirteenth digit is the number of registrations done by the firm within the state using the same PAN number. This can be an alphanumeric figure (between 1-9 and then A-Z)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The fourteenth digit is the alphabet &#8216;Z&#8217; by default.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The fifteenth digit represents a check code that can be an alphabet or a number.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">While this system makes it easy to spot fakes from real GSTIN, there are better methods than this one, and this is where technology comes into play.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">How to Verify a GSTIN?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">If you are suspicious about an invoice or bill and suspect it has a\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">fake GSTIN number<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, you can easily spot it in two ways:<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Using GST Gov Portal<\/span><\/h3>\n<ol>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Go to\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gst.gov.in\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">https:\/\/www.gst.gov.in<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0and click on the &#8216;Search Taxpayer&#8217; tab.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Once you do this, you will get the option &#8216;Search by GSTIN \/ UIN.&#8217;<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Here, input the GSTIN number and hit &#8216;Search.&#8217;<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">If the number is correct, the company&#8217;s information, the person&#8217;s name, registration date, and other details will show up.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">If this matches the business of the invoice or bill, you do not need to worry.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Using Razorpay&#8217;s GST Number Search &amp; Verification Tool<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Alternatively, you can also check for any <\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">fake GST numbers<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0using\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Razorpay&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/razorpay.com\/gst-number-search\/\">GST Number Verification Tool<\/a><\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">. To authenticate the GST number on Razorpay, do the following:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Go to\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Razorpay GST Number Search &amp; Verification Tool<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Enter GSTIN Number<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Hit &#8216;Search&#8217;<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">After this, all the details about the GSTIN will be displayed, and you can easily verify the information.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><em>In case you don&#8217;t have a GSTIN, you can utilize the PAN card of the specific business to access its current status via Razorpay&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/razorpay.com\/gst-number-search\/pan\/\">GST search by PAN<\/a> tool.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><span data-sheets-value=\"{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;You can calculate the due tax breakup of GST based on different tax slabs using Razorpay\u2019s Online GST calculator.&quot;}\" data-sheets-userformat=\"{&quot;2&quot;:4520,&quot;6&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;8&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;10&quot;:1,&quot;11&quot;:4,&quot;15&quot;:&quot;Muli&quot;}\">You can calculate the due tax breakup of GST based on different tax slabs using Razorpay\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/razorpay.com\/gst-calculator\/\">Online GST calculator<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">How to Check Whether the GST Rates Applied in a Bill Are Correct?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Once you have identified whether the bill or invoice has the correct or\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">fake GSTIN number<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, you must also check if the correct <a href=\"https:\/\/razorpay.com\/learn\/gst-rates-goods-and-service-tax-rates-slabs\/\">GST rate<\/a> was charged. To do this,<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Visit the\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/cbic-gst.gov.in\/gst-goods-services-rates.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Central Board of Indirect Taxes &amp; Customs GST<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0page<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Search either by the HSN code or the product or service you have purchased<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Your bill is authentic and charged correctly if the result matches the rate mentioned. If there are issues, you can raise this with the business or submit a complaint to the GST officials.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Where to Complain about a Fake GST Number?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">You can quickly raise a complaint with the GST helplines if you have received an invoice or bill with a\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">fake GST number<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0or have been overcharged as per GST regulations. To submit a complaint, you can use email or call the numbers below:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">GST Complaint mail id:<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0helpdesk@gst.gov.in<\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">GST Helpline Number:<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a00124-4688999 or 0120-4888999<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Conclusion<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Transitioning from the previous taxation regime to the GST regime may have added stress to businesses and customers. Still, this system also creates a simplified approach to identify unauthentic and improper billing. While there are methodologies to track such frauds, we must also keep an eye out as responsible and aware citizens.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">So next time you get a bill or an invoice, do a quick search using the\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">GST Number Search &amp; Verification Tool<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, which helps you identify\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">fake GSTIN numbers<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0in hardly a few seconds but can help save you from any frauds or wrongdoings.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Government of India introduced the Goods &amp; Services Tax (GST) to simplify taxation and create a centralized one nation, one tax policy. As part of this policy, every business has to provide their registered GST Identification Number(GSTIN) whenever they charge tax to the end customer or on their invoice. But while GSTIN has created<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":151156444,"featured_media":7367,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3435],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-7366","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-gst-tax-government"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/learn.razorpay.in\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7366","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/learn.razorpay.in\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/learn.razorpay.in\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/learn.razorpay.in\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/151156444"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/learn.razorpay.in\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7366"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/learn.razorpay.in\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7366\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16303,"href":"https:\/\/learn.razorpay.in\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7366\/revisions\/16303"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/learn.razorpay.in\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7367"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/learn.razorpay.in\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7366"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/learn.razorpay.in\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7366"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/learn.razorpay.in\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7366"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}