A Corporate Identification Number (CIN) is a unique identification number that is assigned by the Registrar of Companies (ROC) to the companies registered in India. The ROC gives the CIN to the companies while issuing their Registration Certificate.
The CIN is an important number as every company must mention this unique CIN in the forms to be submitted to the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), particularly in audits and reports.
Corporate Identification Number (CIN) is a 21 digits alpha-numeric code issued to companies incorporated within the country on being registered by the ROC situated in different states across India under the MCA.
CIN is provided to all companies registered in India, which include:
However, CIN is not given to the Limited Liability Partnerships (LLP) registered in India. For the LLPs, the ROC gives the LLPIN (Limited Liability Partnership Identification Number) that acts as a unique 7-digit identification number of the LLP.
CIN is used for tracking all the aspects and activities of a company from its incorporation by the ROC and is required to be provided on all the transactions with the respective ROC.
The 21 digit CIN has its own meaning which is easily translatable and which helps in finding basic information relating to a company. It is used for finding the primary details of the companies which are registered within the country under MCA.
CIN is a unique number that can be used for identifying or tracking companies for several levels of information that ROC / MCA holds. The CIN contains the identity of an organisation and additional information regarding the registered company under the ROC.
Example of a unique CIN issued by ROC – L01631KA2010PTC096843
The 21-digits CIN represents and provides information about the company. The CIN can be broken down into six sections. In the above example, the CIN can be broken down as follows:
Section-1: The first character – L
Section-2: The next five digits – 01631
Section-3: The next two letters – KA
Section-4: The next four digits – 2010
Section-5: The next three characters – PTC
Section-6: The last six digits – 096843
Each section provides the following information:
The abbreviations used in the Section-5 of the CIN are as follows:
Every company that is established in India needs to quote its Corporate Identification Number on various documents which include:
In case the above-mentioned requirements aren’t adhered to, there’s a penalty of INR 1,000/day on the defaulting company and on its, every officer is in default, till such default continues. However, the maximum penalty for this default is limited to INR 1,00,000.
CIN which is provided to every registered company for the purpose of identification can be changed in certain cases such as:
A CIN is an alphanumeric number allotted to the company on the date of its registration by the Registrar of Companies. The company’s CIN is mentioned in its Certificate of Incorporation. Thus, a CIN number is automatically allotted to the company when it is incorporated and approved by the Registrar of Companies.
You can find a company’s CIN from the MCA website by following the below process:
No. A CIN is allotted to a registered company, and LLPIN (LLP Identification Number) is allotted to a Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) by the Registrar of Companies. Thus, CIN is allotted only to companies registered under the Companies Act, 2013, not LLPs.
No. A CIN is the identification number allotted to registered companies by the Registrar of Companies at the time of issue of the company registration certificate. On the other hand, GSTIN is the identification number issued to companies and businesses registered under the GST law. Hence, both are different and have different functions.
Yes. As per section 12(3)(c) of the Companies Act, a company must print its name, address of its registered office and the CIN in all its business letters, billheads, letter papers, notices and other official publications. Thus, a company must mandatorily mention its CIN on its bills, invoices, receipts and e-mails sent to outside parties.
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