PAN, GSTIN and IFSC Validator

Type or paste a PAN, GSTIN or IFSC. The validator detects the type from the length, runs the format rules and, for GSTIN, recomputes the check digit. Nothing you type leaves your browser.

How to use the validator

Paste the number into the box. Spaces are removed and lower case is converted to capitals. The validator decides what you entered from its length:

• 10 characters: PAN
• 11 characters: IFSC
• 15 characters: GSTIN

It then runs each rule for that type and shows a pass or fail for every rule, plus what it can read from the number, such as the holder type of a PAN or the state of a GSTIN. You can check a whole list one by one, for example when cleaning up a supplier master in your accounting software.

PAN format

A Permanent Account Number has ten characters in a fixed pattern: five letters, four digits, one letter. AAPFU0939F is a valid example.

• Characters 1 to 3: a letter series from AAA to ZZZ.
• Character 4: the holder type.
• Character 5: for individuals, the first letter of the surname; for others, the first letter of the name.
• Characters 6 to 9: a running number.
• Character 10: a check letter.

The fourth letter tells you what kind of taxpayer holds the PAN:

Fourth letter	Holder type
P	Individual
C	Company
H	Hindu Undivided Family (HUF)
F	Firm or LLP
A	Association of persons
T	Trust
B	Body of individuals
L	Local authority
J	Artificial juridical person
G	Government

The fourth letter is a quick sanity check. If a supplier says it is a private limited company but its PAN has P in the fourth place, the PAN belongs to an individual, perhaps a director, and the invoice details are wrong.

The Income Tax Department does not publish the formula for the PAN’s last letter, so the validator checks the pattern and the holder type, not the check letter.

GSTIN format

A GST Identification Number has fifteen characters. Take 27AAPFU0939F1ZV:

• 27: the state code, here Maharashtra. Codes follow the census numbering, such as 07 for Delhi, 29 for Karnataka, 33 for Tamil Nadu and 36 for Telangana.
• AAPFU0939F: the PAN of the business. Every GSTIN is built on a PAN.
• 1: the registration number under that PAN in the state. A business with several registrations in one state, for different verticals, gets 1, 2, 3 and so on, then letters after 9.
• Z: the fourteenth character, which is Z for normal taxpayers.
• V: the check character, calculated from the first fourteen.

The validator recomputes the check character with the official method, a modulus 36 calculation over the first fourteen characters. If one character has been mistyped, the check fails and the validator shows which check character it expected. It also checks that the embedded PAN follows the PAN rules.

IFSC format

An IFSC has eleven characters: four letters for the bank, a zero, then six letters or digits for the branch. The validator checks that pattern and splits the code into bank and branch parts. To find the bank’s name and branch address, use the IFSC code finder, which looks the code up in a public directory.

What a pass does and does not prove

A pass means the number is correctly formed. It does not prove:

• that the PAN has been issued, is active, or belongs to the person named,
• that the GSTIN is registered, active or not cancelled,
• that the IFSC belongs to a branch that is still open.

For a PAN, the income tax e-filing portal has a “Verify your PAN” service that confirms the name and status. For a GSTIN, use “Search Taxpayer” on the GST portal, which shows the legal name, trade name, status, registration date and return filing history. Check both before you start buying from a new supplier.

Why it matters for input tax credit

If a supplier’s GSTIN is wrong on its invoice, or has been cancelled, you cannot claim input tax credit on that invoice, and the credit you already claimed can be reversed with interest. Common problems are:

• a GSTIN from the wrong state, when the supplier has registrations in several states,
• a cancelled or suspended GSTIN that still appears on old invoice templates,
• a typo in your own GSTIN on the supplier’s invoice, which means the invoice does not appear in your GSTR-2B.

Running each supplier GSTIN through the validator when you set it up, and checking the portal for status, prevents most of these. The GST calculator then splits each invoice into taxable value, CGST, SGST or IGST.

PAN and Aadhaar linking

Individual PANs had to be linked with Aadhaar by the deadline set by the government. An unlinked PAN becomes inoperative, which means higher TDS on payments and problems with refunds and filing. A PAN can pass this format check and still be inoperative. The e-filing portal shows the link status.

Common mistakes the validator catches

• Swapped characters, such as 0 and O or 1 and I. PAN and GSTIN use letters and digits in fixed places, so these swaps usually break the pattern.
• A missing or extra character, often from copying a GSTIN out of a PDF.
• A GSTIN with the wrong state code for the address on the invoice.
• A GSTIN whose embedded PAN does not match the supplier’s PAN on its other documents.

Where you need these numbers

• Vendor onboarding. Most companies collect PAN, GSTIN and bank details with IFSC from every new supplier. Checking all three at entry avoids failed payments and lost input credit later.
• TDS. When you deduct TDS on payments to contractors, professionals or landlords, you must quote the payee’s PAN in your TDS return. A wrong or missing PAN means TDS at a higher rate and a mismatch in the payee’s Form 26AS, which leads to disputes.
• E-invoicing and e-way bills. The buyer’s GSTIN must be correct for the e-invoice to be generated and for the supply to show in the buyer’s GSTR-2B.
• Loan and account applications. Banks and NBFCs ask for PAN on most applications and GSTIN for business loans.
• High-value transactions. PAN is required for many transactions, such as cash deposits above set limits, property purchases and some investments.

A simple supplier check routine

When a new supplier sends its details:

1. Run the PAN here and check that the fourth letter matches the type of business.
2. Run the GSTIN and check the state code against the supplier’s billing address, and that the embedded PAN is the same as the PAN they gave you.
3. Look the GSTIN up on the GST portal and confirm the legal name, status and recent return filing.
4. Look the IFSC up in the IFSC code finder and confirm the bank and branch.
5. Send a small test payment before the first large one.

Repeat steps 2 and 3 once a year for active suppliers, since registrations can be cancelled. The whole routine takes a few minutes and catches most errors and many fraud attempts.

Privacy

The validator works entirely in your browser. PANs, GSTINs and IFSCs you enter are not sent to our server or stored anywhere, so it is safe to use with client and employee data.

Frequently asked questions

How can I tell if a PAN belongs to a company or an individual?

Look at the fourth character. P means an individual, C a company, F a firm or LLP, H a Hindu Undivided Family and T a trust. The validator shows the holder type for any PAN you enter.

How is the GSTIN check digit calculated?

Each of the first fourteen characters is converted to a value from 0 to 35, multiplied alternately by 1 and 2, and the results are reduced and added using base 36. The check character is what makes the total divisible by 36. The validator does this automatically and shows the expected character if yours does not match.

Can a valid-looking GSTIN be fake?

Yes. Anyone can build a GSTIN with a correct check digit from a real PAN. Always confirm a new supplier’s GSTIN on the GST portal’s Search Taxpayer page, and check that the legal name and address match the invoice.

Why does my GSTIN fail the 14th character check?

For normal taxpayers, the 14th character is always Z. A different letter usually means a typing error. A few special registrations, such as those for tax deductors or non-resident online service providers, follow different patterns and may not pass this check.

Does the validator check if a PAN is active?

No. It checks only the format. Whether a PAN is active, linked with Aadhaar and belongs to the person named can only be confirmed on the income tax e-filing portal, which requires a login or the holder’s details.

What is the state code in a GSTIN?

The first two digits, based on the census state codes. For example, 07 is Delhi, 09 Uttar Pradesh, 19 West Bengal, 24 Gujarat, 27 Maharashtra and 29 Karnataka. The validator names the state for any valid code.