Regulatory & Tax

CIN (Corporate Identification Number)

21-character ID assigned by MCA (Ministry of Corporate Affairs) to every Indian incorporated company.

CIN structure: 1 char (listing — L for listed, U for unlisted) + 5 digits (industry code) + 2 chars (state) + 4 chars (year of incorporation) + 3 chars (entity type — PTC for Private, PLC for Public) + 6 digits (sequential).

So `U72200KA2018PTC112233` decodes as: Unlisted, IT services (72200), Karnataka (KA), incorporated 2018, Private (PTC), seq 112233.

CIN is used for: MCA filings (annual return, financials), GST registration, opening company bank accounts, govt tenders, RoC compliance, contract execution. Mandatory on every company invoice and letterhead.

India context

Indian Pvt Ltd companies must display CIN on every invoice, letterhead, signage, and digital communication. Penalty for non-display: ₹1,000/day per violation. Most SMBs add it as a footer in invoices and forget — pre-built templates handle this.

Examples

  • U72200KA2018PTC112233 = Unlisted, IT services, Karnataka, 2018, Private, sequence 112233.
  • L91990MH2002PLC135678 = Listed, OtherSvc, Maharashtra, 2002, Public, seq 135678.

FAQ

Is CIN required for partnerships and LLPs?

No. CIN is only for companies (Pvt Ltd, OPC, Public Ltd). LLPs have LLPIN (LLP Identification Number) which serves the same purpose.

Can I change my CIN?

No — it's permanent for the life of the entity. Shifts in industry code or status (private to public) generate change-CIN events but the original CIN remains the historical reference.

Where do I find my CIN?

MCA Master Data search at mca.gov.in. Also on certificate of incorporation, MOA/AOA, annual returns.

Related concepts

MCAROCPANGSTINPvt Ltdannual return

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Related glossary entries

GSTIN — Goods and Services Tax Identification Number — a 15-character ID assigned to every GST-registered business in India.PAN — Permanent Account Number — 10-character alphanumeric ID issued by Income Tax Department, used as universal taxpayer ID.

More in Regulatory & Tax

DPDP ActGSTINGSTR-1GSTR-3BRCM (Reverse Charge Mechanism)ITC (Input Tax Credit)RERAFSSAI
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