Published: 28 July 2026 | Last reviewed: 28 July 2026
Written by: Paras Nagpal, Business Consultant, GetMyCA | Reviewed by: GetMyCA Company Registration Team
Fact-checked against: Sections 2(20), 7 and 12 of the Companies Act, 2013; MCA master-data resources; CBIC GST Payment Rules; and TCS Investor Relations.
On This Page
- CIN full form
- CIN format
- CIN example
- MCA CIN search
- Corporate CIN vs Challan CIN
- CIN change
- Display requirement and penalty
- What else to check
- FAQs
Quick Answer
A CIN (Corporate Identity Number) is a unique 21-character alphanumeric code allotted by the Registrar of Companies to a company incorporated under the Companies Act, 2013, or an earlier company law. It appears in the Certificate of Incorporation and encodes listing status, industry, state, incorporation year, company type and registration number. It is separate from the Challan Identification Number used in tax-payment contexts.
CIN at a Glance
| Question |
Answer |
| Full form |
Corporate Identity Number |
| Common variant |
Corporate Identification Number |
| Length |
21 characters (alphanumeric) |
| Allotted by |
Registrar of Companies (ROC), under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs |
| Legal basis |
Section 7(3), Companies Act, 2013 |
| Where found |
Certificate of Incorporation, MCA portal, invoices and letterheads |
| Applies to |
Companies incorporated under the Companies Act, 2013, or previous company law |
| Does not apply to |
LLPs, which receive an LLPIN instead |
Is “Corporate Identity Number” the Official Term?
Yes. The Companies Act, 2013 uses the term “Corporate Identity Number.” Section 7(3) requires the Registrar to allot the number and include it in the Certificate of Incorporation. Section 12(3)(c) uses the same term for the display requirement.
Under Section 2(20), a “company” means a company incorporated under the Companies Act, 2013, or under any previous company law. This is why companies originally incorporated under earlier legislation can continue to hold a valid current CIN.
“Corporate Identification Number” is a widely used search and business variant referring to the same 21-character identifier, but the statutory wording is “Corporate Identity Number.”
How Is the 21-Character CIN Format Structured?
A CIN contains six segments, each representing a different company attribute.
| Segment |
Length |
What It Represents |
| Listing status |
1 character |
L (listed) or U (unlisted) |
| Industry code |
5 digits |
Economic activity or industry classification recorded in the CIN |
| State code |
2 letters |
State of the registered office, such as MH, DL or KA |
| Year of incorporation |
4 digits |
Calendar year the company was incorporated |
| Company type |
3 letters |
Legal classification, such as PLC, PTC or OPC |
| Registration number segment |
6 digits |
Sequential registration-number component assigned by the ROC |
Commonly Seen Company-Classification Codes
| Code |
Meaning |
| PLC |
Public Limited Company |
| PTC |
Private Limited Company |
| OPC |
One Person Company |
| GOI |
Government of India-owned company |
| SGC |
State Government company |
| NPL |
Section 8 or not-for-profit company |
Note: Interpret the classification code alongside the company's current MCA master data because the code reflects the category recorded in MCA systems.
What Does a Real CIN Look Like, Decoded?
Tata Consultancy Services Limited publicly confirms its CIN as L22210MH1995PLC084781 on its Investor Relations FAQ.
| Segment |
Value |
Meaning |
| Listing status |
L |
Listed company |
| Industry code |
22210 |
Industry classification |
| State code |
MH |
Maharashtra |
| Year |
1995 |
Incorporated in 1995 |
| Company type |
PLC |
Public Limited Company |
| Registration number |
084781 |
ROC sequential registration-number segment |
Important: The five-digit industry segment reflects the economic-activity classification recorded in the CIN. It may not always describe the company's present-day operations in plain language, so check current business activities separately through MCA master data and recent filings.
How Do You Find a Company's CIN on the MCA Portal?
Search the company's exact legal name through MCA's company or LLP master-data facility. Match the name, company status, registered office and CIN shown in the result. Similar names can exist, so avoid relying only on third-party databases or partial-name matches.
- Open the MCA portal and choose the View Company/LLP Master Data service.
- Search using the company's exact legal name, or an existing CIN if available.
- Confirm that the legal name exactly matches the intended company.
- Cross-check the CIN, company status and registered-office address.
- Review filing status separately when compliance history matters.
- Use third-party databases only as a convenience and confirm final details on MCA.
Where Must a Company Display Its CIN?
Section 12(3)(c) requires a company to print its CIN, together with its name, registered-office address and specified contact details, on business letters, billheads, letter papers, notices and other official publications.
- Business letters
- Billheads
- Letter papers
- Notices
- Other official publications
Companies also commonly place the CIN on invoices, email signatures and website footers as a compliance and identification practice. The precise legal requirement for a particular communication should still be assessed against the statutory wording.
Is the Registration Number the Same as the CIN?
No. The registration number is the six-digit segment at the end of the CIN, while the CIN is the complete 21-character corporate identifier. The full CIN also communicates listing status, industry classification, registered-office state, incorporation year and company category.
Is Corporate CIN the Same as the CIN Used in Tax Payments?
No. Corporate CIN and Challan CIN are unrelated identifiers that share the same abbreviation.
| Point |
Corporate CIN |
Challan CIN |
| Full form |
Corporate Identity Number |
Challan Identification Number |
| Purpose |
Identifies a company in MCA records |
Confirms that a tax payment was credited to the government account |
| Allotted/generated by |
Registrar of Companies |
Collecting bank after successful credit |
| Used in |
Certificate of Incorporation, MCA filings, business documents and company identification |
Tax-payment challans and payment reconciliation under the relevant tax system |
| Format |
Fixed 21-character alphanumeric identifier |
Depends on the relevant tax-payment system |
GST-specific clarification: Under GST payment rules, the collecting bank generates the Challan Identification Number after successful credit to the concerned government account. View CBIC GST Payment Rules
How Does CIN Differ From LLPIN, DIN, PAN and GSTIN?
| Identifier |
Who Gets It |
Issued/Allotted By |
| CIN |
Companies incorporated under company law |
ROC under MCA |
| LLPIN |
Limited Liability Partnerships |
ROC under MCA |
| DIN |
Individual directors |
MCA |
| PAN |
Companies and individuals for income-tax purposes |
Income Tax Department |
| GSTIN |
Businesses registered under GST |
GST authorities |
LLPs do not receive a CIN. They receive an LLPIN because they are registered under the Limited Liability Partnership Act rather than the Companies Act.
Can a Company's CIN Change?
A CIN normally remains associated with the same legal entity, but the displayed CIN may be updated where an encoded field changes, such as the registered-office state, listing status or company classification. The Companies Act does not provide a simple public checklist saying that every event below automatically changes the CIN, so verify the current identifier on MCA after the relevant filing is approved.
| Event |
Does the CIN Typically Change? |
| Company name change |
Generally no |
| Registered-office shift within the same state |
Generally no |
| Registered-office shift to a different state |
May change because the state-code segment may be updated |
| Change from unlisted to listed status |
May change because the listing-status segment may be updated |
| Conversion of company type, such as private to public |
May change if the classification code recorded in the CIN is updated |
What Is the Penalty for Not Displaying CIN?
Under Section 12(8), the company and every officer in default may each face a penalty of ₹1,000 for every day the default continues, subject to a maximum of ₹1 lakh for the company and ₹1 lakh for each officer in default. The maximum is not one combined cap shared by all liable parties.
Does a Valid CIN Guarantee a Trustworthy Company?
No. A valid CIN confirms that a corporate identity exists in MCA records, but it does not establish financial strength, genuine operations, filing regularity or freedom from fraud. Before a significant transaction, also review company status, directors, charges and recent filing history.
What Else Should You Check Along With a CIN?
Use this GetMyCA verification checklist after locating the CIN:
- Confirm the exact legal name.
- Check current company status, such as active, struck off or under liquidation.
- Verify the registered-office state and address.
- Review directors and signatories.
- Check recent filing history.
- Inspect registered charges and lender records where relevant.
- Match the CIN against invoice and contract details before relying on them.
What Are the Most Common CIN Mistakes?
- Confusing Corporate CIN with Challan Identification Number.
- Assuming a CIN can never change under any circumstances.
- Treating the last six digits as a separate full company identifier.
- Failing to display CIN on documents covered by Section 12(3)(c).
- Assuming an active CIN alone proves that a company is trustworthy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the full form of CIN?
CIN stands for Corporate Identity Number, the term used in the Companies Act, 2013. Corporate Identification Number is a commonly used variant referring to the same 21-character identifier.
Is CIN the same as a company registration number?
No. The registration number is the six-digit segment at the end of the CIN. The complete CIN is a 21-character identifier that also contains listing status, industry, state, incorporation year and company classification.
Do LLPs have a CIN?
No. Limited Liability Partnerships receive an LLPIN because they are registered under the LLP Act, not the Companies Act.
Is CIN the same as the CIN mentioned in GST payments?
No. In GST and other tax-payment contexts, CIN can mean Challan Identification Number, generated after successful payment credit. It is unrelated to a company's Corporate Identity Number.
What happens if a company does not display its CIN?
The company and every officer in default may each face ₹1,000 per continuing day, subject to a maximum of ₹1 lakh for the company and ₹1 lakh for each officer.
Can a company's CIN change?
It may be updated when an encoded attribute changes, such as registered-office state, listing status or company classification. Verify the current CIN on MCA after the relevant filing is approved.
How can I verify a company's CIN?
Search the exact legal name through MCA master data, then match the company name, status, registered office and CIN. Avoid relying only on third-party databases or partial-name matches.
Need Help With Company Registration or Compliance?
Getting the CIN, incorporation documents and ongoing filings right from the start reduces avoidable company-law compliance errors. GetMyCA can assist with company registration and related compliance requirements under the Companies Act.
Start Your Company Registration | Talk to a GetMyCA Expert: +91 92174 87001
Related Reading
Official Sources
About the Author
Paras Nagpal
Business Consultant, GetMyCA
Email: paras@getmyca.com | Phone: +91 92174 87001
Disclaimer
This article is for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Always verify company details directly on the MCA portal and consult a qualified professional for company registration or compliance matters.
About GetMyCA
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