How to Verify a Supplier's GST Number Before You Buy
Check a supplier's GSTIN, legal name, registration status and address on the official GST portal before placing a B2B order in India.
By Priya Singh, Head of Sourcing Research·Updated 15 August 2026
Short answer
Verify a supplier's GSTIN on the GST portal before making a first payment. Match the portal's legal name, active status, principal address and registration date to the proforma invoice and bank account details. A valid GSTIN is an important identity check, not proof of product quality or delivery capability—combine it with samples, references and a safe payment structure.
1. Collect the right details first
Ask for the GSTIN exactly as it appears on the supplier's tax invoice or proforma invoice. A GSTIN has 15 characters; do not rely on a logo, WhatsApp screenshot or a name alone.
GSTIN and legal name
The GSTIN lets you retrieve the registered legal name and trade name. Both should make commercial sense alongside the supplier's quotation.
Invoice and bank details
The entity receiving payment should match the invoicing entity. Escalate a request to transfer funds to an unrelated personal account or company.
Physical address
Compare the principal place of business to the warehouse or factory address. A mismatch can be legitimate, but the supplier should explain it clearly.
2. Run the official GST search
Search the GSTIN
Open Search Taxpayer on gst.gov.in and choose Search by GSTIN/UIN. Enter the number and CAPTCHA yourself; do not use a supplier-provided screen recording as evidence.
Check status and dates
The registration should show Active. Note the effective date of registration and investigate a recently registered business that claims a long trading history.
Save an audit trail
Export or screenshot the result with the date, then attach it to the supplier onboarding record. Recheck it before a large repeat order because registration status can change.
3. Match the portal result to the commercial documents
| Check | What should match | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Legal or trade name | Quotation, invoice and bank beneficiary | Reduces identity and payment-diversion risk |
| Status | Active registration | Cancelled or suspended registrations need an explanation |
| Address | Registered address or documented warehouse/factory | Helps validate operating footprint |
| Registration date | Claimed years in business | Flags unsupported longevity claims |
4. Know what GST verification cannot tell you
- GST search does not confirm inventory, manufacturing capacity, product specifications, creditworthiness or whether the contact is authorised to bind the company.
- A new registration is not automatically a red flag; assess it with site evidence, references and a trial order.
- Do not publish or share a supplier's tax data beyond your procurement process. Use it only for legitimate due diligence and invoicing.
5. Use a safer first-order process
- Request a written specification, tax-inclusive commercial terms, delivery location and inspection/acceptance criteria.
- For a meaningful first order, obtain a sample or conduct a pre-dispatch inspection before release of the balance payment.
- Pay the verified business account by traceable banking channel and retain the proforma invoice, e-way bill and lorry receipt where applicable.
Official checks and useful references
Related buyer guides
How to verify a supplier's GST number
- 1
Collect the GSTIN from a tax or proforma invoice
Ask for the 15-character GSTIN exactly as printed on the supplier's invoice. Do not rely on a logo, a WhatsApp screenshot or a company name alone.
- 2
Search the GSTIN on gst.gov.in
Open Search Taxpayer on the GST portal, choose Search by GSTIN/UIN, and enter the number and CAPTCHA yourself. Do not accept a supplier-provided screen recording as evidence.
- 3
Check registration status and dates
The registration should show Active. Note the effective date of registration and investigate any recently registered business that claims a long trading history.
- 4
Match the portal result to the commercial documents
Confirm the legal or trade name matches the quotation, invoice and bank beneficiary, and that the registered address matches the stated warehouse or factory.
- 5
Save an audit trail
Export or screenshot the result with the date and attach it to the supplier onboarding record. Recheck before a large repeat order, because registration status can change.
Frequently asked questions
Can I verify a GST number by company name?
The GST portal's public search is most reliable when you have the GSTIN. Ask the supplier to provide it on a quotation or invoice, then verify it directly on gst.gov.in before paying.
Is an active GSTIN enough to trust a supplier?
No. It confirms a tax registration is active, but it does not prove product quality, inventory or delivery performance. Check the address, sample, references, commercial documents and payment terms as well.
What should I do if the GST name and bank beneficiary differ?
Pause payment and request a written explanation and corrected commercial documents. For a first order, paying an unrelated personal or company account materially increases risk and can complicate invoice matching, recovery, and GST input-credit records.
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