CIN number: meaning, format, and how to find it (2026 guide)

Every company incorporated in India receives a Corporate Identification Number (CIN) at the time of registration. CIN number is the unique 21-character Corporate Identification Number issued by the Registrar of Companies (ROC) to every company incorporated in India.

The CIN is not merely an internal reference number. Under Section 12(3)(c) of the Companies Act, 2013, every company is legally required to print its CIN on all business letters, invoices, letterheads, notices, publications, and official communications. Non-disclosure or incorrect display of the CIN attracts a penalty of Rs. 1,000 per day for as long as the default continues, applicable to both the company and every officer in default.

This guide explains what the CIN is, how to decode its 21-character structure, where to find it, how to search any company’s CIN on the MCA portal, how CIN differs from LLPIN and FCRN, and the consequences of non-compliance.

What is a CIN?

A Corporate Identification Number (CIN) is a unique 21-character alphanumeric code assigned to every company registered in India under the Companies Act, 2013 or its predecessor Acts. It is issued automatically by the ROC at the time of incorporation, simultaneously with the Certificate of Incorporation, and appears on the Certificate itself.

The CIN is used by the MCA, ROC, Income Tax Department, GST authorities, SEBI, RBI, and other regulatory bodies to identify, track, and verify the legal status, filing history, and compliance record of a company. It is the primary search key on the MCA21 portal for accessing a company’s master data, directors, charges, filings, and financial statements.

Every event-based and annual form filed on the MCA V3 portal – including SPICe+ at incorporation, AOC-4 financial statements, MGT-7 annual returns, and all event-based forms – requires the CIN to be entered to identify the company. The CIN cannot be changed for the lifetime of the company, with one exception: conversion from Private Limited to Public Limited Company results in a new CIN being issued.

If you are about to incorporate a company and want to understand how the CIN is generated from your registered office address, read the complete guide to company registration in India – the state code in your CIN is determined by the address you use in the SPICe+ form.

The 21-character CIN structure: a complete breakdown

The CIN encodes six categories of information in a specific sequence. Using the example CIN: U74999MH2018PTC312456

Character 1: listing status

A single letter indicating whether the company is listed or unlisted on a stock exchange.

• L: Listed company (shares listed on BSE, NSE, or other recognised stock exchanges).
• U: Unlisted company (the vast majority of Private Limited Companies, OPCs, and unlisted Public Limited Companies carry this prefix).

Characters 2 to 6: industry code (5 digits)

A 5-digit numeric code representing the primary industry or economic activity of the company, based on the National Industrial Classification (NIC). This is the same NIC code submitted in the SPICe+ form at incorporation.

Common industry codes: 74999 for other professional, scientific, and technical activities; 62011 for custom software development; 64200 for holding company activities; 46900 for non-specialised wholesale trade; 47110 for retail sale in non-specialised stores.

Characters 7 to 8: state code (2 letters)

A 2-letter abbreviation for the state in which the company is registered with the ROC. Common state codes: MH (Maharashtra), DL (Delhi), KA (Karnataka), TN (Tamil Nadu), GJ (Gujarat), WB (West Bengal), TS (Telangana), AP (Andhra Pradesh), RJ (Rajasthan), HR (Haryana), UP (Uttar Pradesh), OR (Odisha), PB (Punjab), MP (Madhya Pradesh), KL (Kerala), GA (Goa).

The state code reflects the ROC jurisdiction at the time of incorporation. It does not change even if the company subsequently shifts its registered office to another state under Section 13 of the Companies Act, 2013.

Characters 9 to 12: year of incorporation (4 digits)

The 4-digit calendar year in which the company was incorporated. In the example above, 2018 indicates the company was incorporated in 2018.

Characters 13 to 15: type of company (3 letters)

A 3-letter code indicating the legal type or ownership structure. The most commonly encountered codes are: PTC (Private Limited Company), PLC (Public Limited Company), OPC (One Person Company), FTC (Foreign Subsidiary Company), GOI (Government of India undertaking), NPL (Non-Profit company under Section 8).

Characters 16 to 21: registration number (6 digits)

A 6-digit sequential number representing the company’s registration number within the ROC’s register for the state and year of incorporation.

Reading the full example: U74999MH2018PTC312456 tells us: Unlisted (U), Industry Code 74999, Registered in Maharashtra (MH), Incorporated in 2018, Private Limited Company (PTC), Registration Number 312456.

CIN vs LLPIN vs FCRN

Not all business entities receive a CIN. Understanding the difference prevents confusion:

LLPIN (Limited Liability Partnership Identification Number): LLPs do not receive a CIN. They receive an LLPIN, a shorter alphanumeric code (example: AAB-1234), issued by the ROC at the time of LLP registration.

FCRN (Foreign Company Registration Number): foreign companies registered in India under Section 380 of the Companies Act, 2013 receive a FCRN instead of a CIN.

PAN: PAN is the tax identification number issued by the Income Tax Department. It is not the same as CIN. Both are required for all registered companies but serve different regulatory purposes. PAN is issued simultaneously with the Certificate of Incorporation through the SPICe+ integrated process.

Where to find a company’s CIN

Method 1: Certificate of Incorporation

The CIN is printed on the Certificate of Incorporation issued by the ROC. For companies incorporated through SPICe+, the Certificate of Incorporation is issued digitally and is accessible in the MCA V3 portal’s inbox for the authorised signatory’s login.

Method 2: MCA21 portal (MCA V3)

The MCA21 portal at mca.gov.in is the primary public database for all company information. Go to mca.gov.in, click on MCA Services, select View Company or LLP Master Data, and enter the company name or use the Find CIN option. The portal displays the company’s CIN, registered office address, date of incorporation, listing status, company type, and current compliance status.

Method 3: company documents

The CIN must be printed on all company letterheads, invoices, bills, receipts, and official communications under Section 12(3)(c). For any document issued by a company, the CIN should appear in the header or footer.

How to verify a company using its CIN

Verifying a company’s CIN is an essential step in due diligence before entering into a business transaction, extending credit, hiring a vendor, or onboarding a distributor. The following information is publicly accessible by entering a CIN on the MCA21 portal:

• Company name and any previous names.
• Registered office address, both current and historical, including all changes filed via INC-22.
• Date of incorporation and the ROC jurisdiction.
• Authorised and paid-up share capital.
• Current status: Active, Struck Off, Under Process of Striking Off, Under Liquidation, Dissolved, Dormant, or Amalgamated.
• List of current and past directors with DINs, appointment dates, and resignation dates.
• Charges registered against the company under Sections 77 to 87 of the Companies Act, 2013.
• All annual and event-based filings with filing dates. A multi-year gap in annual filing history is a direct red flag.

A company with Active status and a current filing record is generally in good regulatory standing. A company with status Struck Off or with a multi-year filing gap should be approached with caution in any commercial transaction.

Read the GST registration guide to understand how the CIN is also used in GST applications to link your company’s MCA record to its GSTIN.

Mandatory display requirements under the Companies Act, 2013

Section 12(3)(c) requires every company to display its CIN on: all business letters, correspondence, and official communications; all invoices, receipts, and letters of credit; all forms filed with the MCA; all notices issued to shareholders or the public; all publications including annual reports and financial statements; and the company’s website in a prominent location.

Failure to comply attracts a penalty of Rs. 1,000 per day of default under Section 12(8), applicable to both the company and every officer in default.

Common mistakes involving the CIN

Incorrectly printing the CIN on invoices: the CIN must be printed exactly as issued, with correct capitalisation and no spaces or hyphens inserted between character groups.

Using the LLPIN as a CIN: companies that started as LLPs and converted to Private Limited Companies receive a new CIN at conversion. The old LLPIN must not be used on new company documents.

Not updating CIN after conversion: when a Private Limited Company converts to a Public Limited Company, a new CIN is issued. Continuing to use the old CIN post-conversion is a compliance error.

Failing to display CIN on email footers and websites: Section 12(3)(c) covers all official communications, which includes electronic correspondence. Many companies display the CIN on physical letterheads but omit it from email signatures and website footers.

Does the CIN change when a company changes its name or state?

Name change: the CIN does not change. The same CIN is retained, but the company’s new name is updated in the MCA database. The CIN continues to reflect the original NIC code, state, year, and type of company as at the time of incorporation.

State change: the CIN does not change even when a company shifts its registered office from one state to another. The state code in the CIN reflects the original state of incorporation permanently.

Conversion (Private Limited to Public Limited): this is one of the few scenarios where a new CIN is issued, reflecting the changed company type (PTC to PLC).

CIN and virtual office registered addresses

The CIN encodes the state of incorporation based on the address used at SPICe+ filing. For companies that intend to register in a specific state for business, compliance, or credibility reasons, the registered office address used at incorporation determines the state code in the CIN.

myHQ Virtual Offices in Bangalore and across 40+ cities in India provide MCA-compliant registered office addresses, backed by 150+ partner spaces, 50+ Virtual Office Experts, and 10,000+ clients served. Founders who want a Karnataka (KA), Maharashtra (MH), Delhi (DL), or any specific state CIN can incorporate using a myHQ virtual office address in the relevant state, establishing the desired state code in their CIN from the date of incorporation.

With digital KYC and agreement, the fastest document turnaround time in the industry, flexible contract tenures, and comprehensive help and support, the registered office documentation required for SPICe+ filing is ready quickly and accurately.

Read the guide to virtual place of business registration to understand how a virtual office address determines your company’s registered state and CIN state code.

Frequently asked questions

What is a CIN number and who issues it?

A CIN is a unique 21-character alphanumeric code issued by the Registrar of Companies under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs to every company registered in India at the time of incorporation. It identifies the company across all government databases.

How do I find my company’s CIN?

The CIN is printed on the Certificate of Incorporation. It can also be found by searching the company’s name on the MCA21 portal at mca.gov.in under MCA Services, View Company or LLP Master Data.

Does the CIN change if the company changes its name?

No. The CIN remains the same after a name change. The new name is updated in the MCA database but the CIN stays unchanged.

What is the penalty for not displaying the CIN on invoices and letterheads?

Under Section 12(3)(c) and Section 12(8) of the Companies Act, 2013, failure to display the CIN attracts a penalty of Rs. 1,000 per day of default on both the company and every officer in default.

Do LLPs receive a CIN?

No. LLPs receive an LLPIN (Limited Liability Partnership Identification Number), a shorter alphanumeric code. The LLPIN serves the same identification purpose for LLPs that the CIN serves for companies.

Is the CIN the same as the company’s PAN?

No. The CIN is the company’s unique identity number under the Companies Act, issued by the ROC. PAN is the tax identification number issued by the Income Tax Department. Both are required but serve different regulatory purposes.

Can the same CIN be used for two companies?

No. A CIN is unique to each company and cannot be reused or shared. Once a company is struck off or dissolved, its CIN is retired and never reassigned.