UDIN: Verification, Format, Full Form, Helpline Number

A Unique Document Identification Number (UDIN) is a unique number generated by practising Chartered Accountants for certificates, audit reports, and other attested documents issued by them. Introduced by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), UDIN helps verify the authenticity of documents, prevents the misuse or forgery of a CA's signature, and enables regulators, banks, and other stakeholders to confirm that a document has been genuinely issued by a Chartered Accountant.

What is UDIN?

UDIN (Unique Document Identification Number) is an 18-digit unique number generated by a practising Chartered Accountant on the ICAI UDIN portal for certificates, audit reports, and other documents certified or attested by them. Introduced by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), UDIN helps verify the authenticity of such documents and prevents the misuse or forgery of a Chartered Accountant's signature.

How to Register on the UDIN portal?

Full-time practising Chartered Accountants (CAs) holding a valid Certificate of Practice (COP) must complete a one-time registration on the UDIN portal before generating UDINs for certificates, audit reports, and other attested documents.

Step 1: Visit the ICAI UDIN portal and click “Login”.

Step 2: Enter your Username in the format ⟨MRN⟩@icai.org and your SSP password - the same credentials used for the ICAI Self Service Portal.

Step 3: Enter the CAPTCHA code displayed.

Step 4: Click "Send OTP" - an OTP will be sent to your registered mobile number and email. Enter the OTP to complete verification.

Step 5: After successful authentication, you will be redirected to the UDIN dashboard.

How to generate UDIN for a document?

Once you have logged in to the UDIN portal, follow these steps to generate a UDIN:

Step 1: Log in to the UDIN portal using your ICAI SSP credentials (MRN@icai.org), enter the CAPTCHA, and complete the OTP verification.

Step 2: From the dashboard, click "Generate UDIN" to start a new request.

Step 3: Your member details will be auto-filled. Select the Firm Registration Number (FRN) if the document is being issued on behalf of a firm, or choose "NA/Individual Capacity" if applicable. Next, select the document type and enter the required details, including the client reference code, document description, date of signing, and the relevant financial figures or keywords. For tax audit reports under the Income-tax Act, the assessee's PAN must also be provided.

Step 4: Verify all the details entered and click "Send OTP". Enter the OTP received on your registered mobile number and email address. Carefully review the preview, as the details cannot be modified after submission.

Step 5: Click "Submit" to generate the UDIN. Once generated, mention the UDIN on the document, either by printing it, adding it as a watermark, or writing it manually before sharing the document with the client.

Note: Once submitted, UDIN details cannot be modified - only revoked, and only within 48 hours of generation.

What is the format of UDIN?

The UDIN is now an 18 digit system generated unique number, a change from the earlier 15-digit format.

The first 6 digits represent the Chartered Accountant's Membership Registration Number. The remaining 12 digits are a system-generated identifier that includes date and security elements, replacing the earlier simple "date + serial number" structure with an enhanced randomly generated component for additional security.

UDIN Verification

As discussed earlier, the UDIN is an initiative taken by ICAI in an effort to curb misrepresentation by third persons posing as Chartered Accountants who forge signatures on documents to mislead authorities.

With the UDIN, the respective authorities such as banks, RBI, Income Tax Department, etc. can check the validity of the documents issued by the Chartered Accountant. Since the UDIN can be generated by the Chartered Accountants only via the UDIN portal, the validity of the attested document can be checked by using its UDIN. The document can also be found by using the Firm Registration Number (FRN), Client Reference Code, Date of Document, etc. through the UDIN portal.

Verification of Documents using UDIN

Once a UDIN for a particular document has been generated, the details of the document corresponding with the UDIN cannot be modified in any manner. However, there may be a situation where the document may either require certain changes or cancellation altogether. In such a situation, the UDIN may be revoked by searching for the document on the UDIN portal and clicking on ‘Revoke’. Note that a reason for revocation will need to be provided. If the UDIN is searched for in the future, it will still appear on the portal, but the same would be displayed as ‘Revoked’.

UDIN Helpline

For any queries or assistance related to the UDIN portal, the following helpline has been provided: PDC Department – (011) 3011 0444 You can also reach them via email at udin@icai.in.