Guides to checking buyers and giving credit
Plain-language guides for Indian businesses that sell on credit: how to verify a GST number, read a GSTIN, check a buyer before giving credit, spot a fake GST number and set credit terms.
How to verify a GST number (GSTIN) on the GST portal
Step-by-step guide to verifying a GSTIN on the GST portal's Search Taxpayer page, and what the legal name, trade name, status, registration date, taxpayer type and return filing table tell you.
Read guideGSTIN format explained: what the 15 characters mean
How a 15-character GSTIN is built: the 2-digit state code, the 10-character PAN, the entity number, the default letter Z and the check character, with an example and a state code table.
Read guideHow to check a buyer before giving credit: a practical checklist
A practical checklist for Indian businesses before selling on credit: GST status and filing regularity, age of the business, court cases, references, small starting limits, written terms and cheques.
Read guideHow to spot a fake GST number or a fake GST invoice
Five checks to catch a fake GSTIN or GST invoice: the GST portal search, name mismatch, cancelled or suspended status, state code against address, and the check character. Plus what to do next.
Read guideGST return filing status: what it tells you about a buyer
How to read a buyer's GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B filing record, why regular filing is a sign of a working business, how non-filing can lead to cancellation, and what the record does not prove.
Read guideCredit terms for B2B sales: how to set the credit period and limit
How to set a credit period and credit limit for business buyers in India, the MSME 45-day payment rule in brief, and the payment terms to print on every invoice.
Read guideCheck your next buyer before you ship
Start with a free GST lookup. Pay only when you need a deeper report or a follow-up.